<p>I have interest in knowing how can a college student get/ build good credit? For example, how can a college freshmen build good credit before their sophmore year?
Would you say most college students have bad credit? I know when entering college a lot of students just begin having a credit card.</p>
<p>I hear that getting a credit card and using it only to purchase gas for your car is a good option. Of course I’m not bringing a car with me to college, so that rules out that option. But the idea is just to use it for a lot of very small purchases, which you can pay off no problem.</p>
<p>I’m starting as a freshman, and I only use my debit card. I don’t even have a credit card, but I probably should get one just for this reason.</p>
<p>I have a credit card. Let’s say my parents want to help me out buying books, or they want to buy me a birthday or christmas present. Instead of them actually going out and buying it themselves, they have me use my credit card to buy things they normally would have bought me.</p>
<p>That way, they just pay off the card, and build my credit. I think it’s a pretty cool system.</p>
<p>1.) Apply for a Citi Forward card.
2.) Get Citi Forward card.
3.) Buy stuff.
4.) Pay bill. On time.
5.) Get awesome credit.</p>
<p>I got a credit card which has been a helpful start. I just use it instead of my debit, then pay it off with my debit.</p>
<p>I’ll also be putting some bills in my name (I’m living in an off-campus apartment) and that will probably help.</p>
<p>Can you build credit with a debit card…?</p>
<p>no, you cant</p>
<p>but you can hurt your credit with it if you get it negative and abandon it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers, very helpful. I know I would like to build my credit as soon as possible ( but in a safe way), having a good credit score can be very helpful as an adult.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if the credit card companies still do this but back when I was 18, and getting my second/third credit card, a lot of the applications asked for household income, not your income, which luckily for my family and me, led me to get credit lines up to 10K, more than I’ll ever need. I’m 22 now, I think most credit card companies have stopped doing that, including offering the intro of 0 percent for a year or 6 months, if they still do, i say opt for those credit cards as you wont be paying intersets for a year or 6 months, and can technically have a balance on them, but be sure to pay it off.</p>
<p>if you ahve the money to afford things and pay them in cash. pay for it with a credit card, and then a week later or a month later use that money to pay the credit card off. that’s how you build up good credit. if you just use cash all the time, you won’t develop good credit as no one will be aware of your payment habits etc. just don’t ever ever overspend.</p>
<p>you know you have good credit when you get offers, and they’re not “student cards” or “small credit lines” sent to your home on a weekly or monthly basis. and never never be late with your payments. i’m so obsessive, i always pay online on two dates every month to make sure I don’t miss a month.</p>
<p>Do not ever get a credit card if you can help it. Credit card debt is evil.</p>
<p>If you must have a credit card, ONLY PUT WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. Always pay off the balances.</p>
<p>Avoid credit cards with high interest rates (> 10%). That includes most store credit cards.</p>
<p>^ Nobody said anything about debt. </p>
<p>The fact is that to get a good rate on a mortgage or car lease in the future, you need to develop good credit NOW. Getting a card and buying toothpaste and shampoo, then paying it off right away, each month or so, will build credit. There is no other way to do it.</p>
<p>The bottom line is most 18-21 year olds don’t need credit cards. I did not have a credit card until I was 21. Years later, my credit score is still over 700. I build my credit by paying my student loans every month and keeping low balances on purchases. Many young people don’t understand how dangerous credit cards can be and often ruin their credit history because of errors and immaturity.</p>
<p>SoAD, putting bills in your name (like your cable bill or electricity bill) will not build your credit.</p>
<p>Most people cannot make payments on their student loans while they are in school. So how else are you supposed to build up your credit if you live in the dorms and have no bills?</p>
<p>Sorry this is a little off topic, but I’m 18 and don’t have a credit card or need one (I have a debit card). In a couple years I’ll need to lease a car and take out some loans for school (private loans, not just fed) so would I need to build up credit for the car/loans? Should i get a credit card and use it for small purchases I’ll pay off immediately to build credit? I’ll use the debit card for most things so i’m not worried about debt.</p>
<p>You will have to have a co-signer for a private loan if you have no credit/job.</p>
<p>if you don’t have credit, you aren’t getting a car loan. bottom line.</p>
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<p>Get a credit card, and use it every now and then. As someone else mentioned in this thread, you can use them for things your parents are getting for you.</p>
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<p>They are only dangerous for people who cannot comprehend that you only buy things you have cash for. The credit card is so you don’t have to carry $200 (or whatever) in your wallet when you go shopping. You buy with the credit card, and then send the money from your checking account to the credit card company.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it is good that people keep balances on their credit cards, because then the rest of us can use the service (of being extended credit, not having to carry around cash) for free.</p>
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<p>Yeah I just realized, I misread an article I was reading. It said to pay bills with a credit card to build credit…</p>
<p>Will not paying them/being late hurt it? ~.-</p>
<p>Yeah I was thinking of building my credit card up when I turn 18 so I can get good rates in the future, such as a car lease… and not having a good credit score you will not be able to lease a car.</p>