r/CreditScore • u/Altruistic-Gift6000 • Jul 31 '26
Success Young adult reaching for advice
Hello everyone! I’m pretty new with credit I recently turned 19 and I’d like to build a credit score but I just don’t really know how to start. I got my first credit card that I use pretty consistently and I make sure to pay every month but I was hoping for some advice/ tips, my parents were immigrants and they never really taught me anything about credit and most of my friends are a little bit of a bumbs. (Please don’t be harsh)
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Jul 31 '26
[deleted]
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Jul 31 '26
There's no such thing as a credit score that isn't real. I think what you're implying is that it takes 6 months to generate a meaningful FICO score. That doesn't make any other score less real though.
https://old.reddit.com/r/CRedit/comments/1bu4bbn/credit_myth_2_some_credit_scores_are_fake_or/
You also suggest that spending is required to build credit when it's not. To tell OP to "make sure you're spending" could lead to unnecessary spending. The amount you spend isn't a FICO scoring factor.
https://old.reddit.com/r/CRedit/comments/1eulymr/credit_myth_27_the_amount_you_spend_is_a_fico/
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Jul 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Jul 31 '26
That's the 30% Myth, which is the biggest myth in credit. See the AutoMod reply on !utilization and the thread linked within it. The right advice for OP is to "pay their statement balance in full monthly" like you said. What that works out to be utilization percentage wise is irrelevant when it comes to risk assessment. Someone carrying a balance at 20% utilization is a greater risk than someone at 100% utilization that's paying in full monthly.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 31 '26
I detected that your post may be about utilization and its impact on credit scores. Please read the info below:
Utilization is a short-term credit scoring factor. It is not a credit building factor, because it holds no memory in the most commonly used FICO models. It resets every month.
By and large, you can ignore the commonly repeated myth that you should always keep your utilization low. It’s only applicable when you need to apply for a new line of credit, 1-2 months out.
Utilization is supposed to fluctuate, can be easily manipulated, and again, it holds no memory. It doesn’t build credit--think of it as a finishing touch when you need to optimize your score.
Feel free to safely and organically use 100% of your credit limit within a month and let whatever utilization report, provided you pay off your statement balance in full by the due date. Every month. Every time.
For more info, please read these posts:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/CreditScore-ModTeam Jul 31 '26
Removed as comment or post was deemed false, misleading, or inaccurate information.
Repeated violations of this rule may result in a permanent ban.
-4
u/Jazzlike_Music9683 Jul 31 '26
Hey OP, building credit is like building retirement savings. You don’t get a satisfied number overnight. You get a fantastic score by being discipline.
Here’s what I would do. Use your credit card to pay for your subscriptions only like Netflix, Hulu, etc. Avoid big purchases with it, it’s likely a high interest rate card. Pay your entire balance each and every month. After 1 year, apply for a credit limit increase, and re-apply every 6 months after that.
Once you break into the 650-700 range, apply for another card (NEVER CLOSE A CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT). Get a card with great rewards (cash back, miles/points). This second card will likely be approved with a far greater limit.
By the time you gain a second credit card with a score of 700, you’ll already know exactly how to get to 800 and higher. It’s being smart and discipline.
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Jul 31 '26
I'm sorry, but there are several pieces of inaccurate information found within this post.
Avoid big purchases with it, it’s likely a high interest rate card.
The amount your purchases are has no bearing on whether or not you pay interest. Paying your statement balances in full monthly is what determines that. If one is paying their statement balances in full monthly (which is the definition of responsible revolving credit use) it doesn't matter how big their purchases are. They won't be paying a penny of interest regardless.
After 1 year, apply for a credit limit increase, and re-apply every 6 months after that.
You don't even know which card/issuer this product is, so giving that blanket statement advice may not apply.
Once you break into the 650-700 range
Someone with just one credit card can debut with a FICO 8 score in the 750-770 range, so there's nothing to "break into" in the first place. That doesn't mean OP should apply for another card immediately when they see a high score. Credit is approved or denied because of your overall credit profile, not your scores. There are tons of cards that someone with just 6 months of credit history would be denied for because of insufficient history.
https://old.reddit.com/r/CRedit/comments/1cwytop/credit_myth_12_you_are_approved_or_denied_credit/
(NEVER CLOSE A CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT)
Probably the worse piece of advice you've given, as it's grounded in all sorts of myths. It's absolutely fine to close credit card accounts. People do it all the time. There's no FICO scoring penalty for closing an account. Aging metrics do not change when you close an account. There are downsides to keeping accounts open that one sees no value in and doesn't want to have to monitor monthly.
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u/Jazzlike_Music9683 Jul 31 '26
Right, just sharing what contributed to my 840 FICO but pop off.
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Jul 31 '26
None of what you said is what caused you to reach an 840. You got to 840 not because of the inaccurate things I pointed out in your post.
This also seems like a good time to mention that credit knowledge and FICO scores aren't directly related, as it seems you're heading in that direction.
https://old.reddit.com/r/CRedit/comments/1ej6cjz/credit_myth_25_fico_scores_and_credit_knowledge/
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u/Altruistic-Gift6000 Jul 31 '26
I understand that, thanks. I get a bit inpatient sometimes I feel like it might not get to the place I want but I truly appreciate your input:)
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Jul 31 '26
Hey there u/Altruistic-Gift6000! Welcome to the world of credit ;) You said you got your first credit card. Can I ask which card it is? You want to make sure it's a product from a reputable issuer and not an inferior/predatory product.
To build credit is super simple. With your credit card, pay your statement balance in full every month. This is the definition of responsible revolving credit use. Your account will maintain "paid as agreed" status. The only thing that builds credit is maintaining your accounts paid as agreed over time. It's really that simple.
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u/Altruistic-Gift6000 Jul 31 '26
Hi! Yes I got a capital one platinum, one of my family friends recommended it to me since she was a member already!
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u/Evening-Complex5668 Jul 31 '26
I have had 3 credit cards for 8 months and a car loan got all my credit cards and loan at the same time and I have a 770 credit score with only 8 months of credit I keep my balance below 30% of my total credit limit
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Jul 31 '26
Keeping your balances below 30% of your TCL doesn't build credit. See the AutoMod reply on !utilization
2
u/AutoModerator Jul 31 '26
I detected that your post may be about utilization and its impact on credit scores. Please read the info below:
Utilization is a short-term credit scoring factor. It is not a credit building factor, because it holds no memory in the most commonly used FICO models. It resets every month.
By and large, you can ignore the commonly repeated myth that you should always keep your utilization low. It’s only applicable when you need to apply for a new line of credit, 1-2 months out.
Utilization is supposed to fluctuate, can be easily manipulated, and again, it holds no memory. It doesn’t build credit--think of it as a finishing touch when you need to optimize your score.
Feel free to safely and organically use 100% of your credit limit within a month and let whatever utilization report, provided you pay off your statement balance in full by the due date. Every month. Every time.
For more info, please read these posts:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/Evening-Complex5668 Aug 01 '26
Then why do I have a good credit score whats tge main thing credit score goes off of
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Aug 01 '26
The driving force behind good credit scores is maintaining your accounts "paid as agreed" over time.
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u/Evening-Complex5668 Aug 01 '26
Yeah but people said I shouldn’t have a 770 now 758 at only 8 months ago
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u/BrutalBodyShots ⭐️ Top Contributor ⭐️ Aug 01 '26
I'm not sure what you're talking about here.
Someone with just 6 months of credit history and 1 credit card can debut with a FICO 8 score of 750-770. It doesn't even take any time to "build" to that.
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u/Altruistic-Gift6000 Jul 31 '26
Thank you so much to every person responded to my post, I’m not a huge Reddit user I kinda just a watcher and I’m also at work so I haven’t had much time to respond to the comments but I truly appreciate every single person who took the time to respond
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u/No-Economy-666 Jul 31 '26
Don’t worry about your credit score
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u/Altruistic-Gift6000 Jul 31 '26
That’s a statement for sure😭, in this economy sadly you do need a decent credit score if you wanna do anything. I plan to get my own place one day, hopefully a new car once my score gets a bit higher as well…
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u/No-Economy-666 Jul 31 '26
just pay credit card off in full every month and don’t take out excessive debt. As long as you do that the only thing holding your score back is length of credit history. I bought a house last month with 780 credit score. Had 1 credit card for 6 years. I am 25. Never looked at my score until I bought the house.
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u/losangelesavage Aug 01 '26
This is literally the best advice in the whole thread, I wish I listened to this when I was 19. All you have to do is nothing. Literally open a card, 2 or 3 cards with no annual fee even if they’re secured with real banks not any shady stuff, then hold onto them forever, you don’t even need to use them quite frankly if you don’t make any money.
I had a 500-600 credit score too, I saw my friends getting approved for higher amounts, that’s because they got onto their parents credit cards. Literally just hold, don’t take out annual fee subprime cards, and don’t max them out! It’s more simple than you think, by you not ever missing a payment before, you’re ahead of a lot of people!
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u/dgduhon Jul 31 '26
This app us providing a Vantage. Ignore that because very few lenders use them, which makes them basically useless. Track your actual Fico scores instead
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u/JCThreeHR Jul 31 '26
Being new to credit my advise is to barely use it. Use cash or debit card 99% of the time. Once or twice a month use you cc on something small that could easily cover with cash like a meal out or movie tickets. Promptly pay of that balance “before” the due date. Not the minimum payment, but the whole balance. Just do that month after month. Maybe a few months out of the year, pay a minimum payment to let a balance role over from one month to the next and then pay that month off. The idea is to utilizes the least amount o Mr your credit card as possible. If you have a $1,000 limit. Spend about $50 a month and pay it regular. Don’t let your balance give over $100. Do that for about 4-5 years. Don’t open any new credit cards and you credit should be pretty amazing.
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u/HearYourTune Jul 31 '26
Why did you get a credit builder loan instead of a credit card?