Most lenders expect you to have a decent credit record to qualify for a loan or credit card. But if you’ve never had a credit card or taken out a loan, you don’t have much of a credit history.
It’s a conundrum that young people face as they begin their adult lives. And having no credit record (or a thin one) touches more than just your ability to borrow money. A landlord may check your credit report before offering you an apartment, and a wireless carrier may peek at your credit before offering you service or setting a price for a plan or device.
Fortunately, you can establish a credit history even without a track record. And if your credit report contains negative items, such as late payments or a bankruptcy, you can use some of the same strategies to rebuild credit.
Apply for a credit card. Using a credit card responsibly helps you get a foot in the door to good credit. To build a positive history, pay your bills by the due date and try to keep the balance to less than 20% to 30% of the card’s limit. The percentage of available credit that you use on your cards is known as your credit utilization ratio, and the lower it is, the better for your credit score. As you learn the ropes, make just a few basic purchases monthly— say, to buy groceries—to help ensure that you can afford to pay the bill in full and avoid carrying a balance from month to month, which incurs interest.
Bu hikaye Kiplinger's Personal Finance dergisinin November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Kiplinger's Personal Finance dergisinin November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
FREE HELP FOR COLLEGEBOUND STUDENTS
This program’s mentors assist applicants as they fill out the FAFSA, write essays and more.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SPOUSAL IRAS
You typically need earned income to contribute to an individual retirement account, but a spousal IRA provides an important exception to this rule.
SELLING SHARES? HERE'S HOW TO MINIMIZE TAXES ON YOUR GAINS
ET'S say you've been regularly buying shares in a booming tech company over the past few years, but now you want to start taking some of those profits, perhaps to rebalance your portfolio.
Strategies for Novice Investors
AS part of a lifes kills program for young, single mothers, I was asked to teach a class on how to get on top of your finances.
ANSWERS TO YOUR 529 PLAN QUESTIONS
Thanks to recent policy changes, families have more options for what to do with money sitting in these tax-advantaged accounts.
Rate-Cut Winners and Losers
NOW that the Federal Reserve has cracked the interest rate ice, the next development will be to separate winners from losers.
SHOULD YOU BUY THESE RED-HOT FUNDS?
Covered-call ETFs are popular but come with plenty of caveats.
DIVIDEND STOCKS ARE READY TO REBOUND
Our favorite dividend payers are poised to benefit as falling interest rates lure investors back.
IS A 55+ COMMUNITY RIGHT FOR YOU?
These age-restricted developments appeal to older adults seeking abundant amenities and an active lifestyle.
AT LONG LAST, RATES ARE DROPPING
Consider these portfolio moves now that the Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate.