✓Pay your full balance every month — never carry a balance. Cards charge 19.99%+ interest.
✓Set up autopay for the minimum to avoid missed payments tanking your score.
✓Keep your utilization below 30% — if your limit is $1,000, spend max $300/mo on it.
✓Your credit score starts building immediately — even small purchases paid off monthly count.
✓Never apply for more than 1 card every 6 months — each application is a hard inquiry.
✓Annual fee cards are worth it when rewards + perks exceed the fee. Do the math for your spending.