How to Build Credit at 18: Best Ways to Start Building Credit Fast

Even if you’ve been avoiding that less-than-impressive credit score for a while, it’s time to put it under the microscope.

By keeping tabs on your credit score, you can build good financial habits by seeing exactly where you need to improve and how you can achieve your targets.

And if there’s any shady activity happening on your account, you can spot it by checking your statements and transactions.

A study by the Federal Trade Commission also found that one in five consumers found errors in their credit reports which could affect their scores. So take the blame off your shoulders and keep an eye out for any slip-ups.

Check out Credit Karma’s free monitoring service, where you can stay up to date with any changes, and get notifications for any suspicious activity.

TransUnion also offers a paid credit monitoring subscription, which gives you—

• Unlimited score and report access.

• Email updates and alerts.

• Personalized debt analysis.

• Access to ID theft experts.

• Up to $1 million ID theft insurance.

We get it. You’re barely out of school and now you’re reading about credit scores and contemplating your future career (with a slight existential crisis thrown in there).

The good news is that you’re still young enough to figure out the world of adulthood. But unless your last name is Kardashian, joining the workforce is closer than you think.

To be clear—your employment status doesn’t affect your credit score. But it can open doors as you’re learning how to build your credit.

Lenders tend to look at your employment history and income when giving out loans, credit cards, and mortgages—all of which are smart ways to build credit at 18 (more on that later).

We don’t normally encourage jumping on the back of others’ success to get a leg up. But in this case, we might need to make an exception.

Life isn’t a game of Uno where you can swap your cards for someone else’s—but you can join forces.

Many credit card companies let their main cardholders add another person as an authorized user. Not only does this allow you to make purchases on their card (take it easy), but you can also benefit from their credit activity as it’s reported to the credit bureaus.

But just like in Uno, you have to be careful which player’s cards you choose. If someone has poor credit, this will negatively impact your own score.

So before you seal the deal—make sure this person is trustworthy and has a good credit history. Your safest bet is usually a family member or a close friend (just not the ones who would choose a weekend bender over paying rent).

Putting your credit into someone else’s hands can be risky. So if becoming an authorized user isn’t for you, why not open your own credit card?

I know what you’re thinking—getting a credit card with no credit is like running a marathon after partying all night. But there are loopholes that can give you a much-needed boost.

Unlike standard credit cards, secured cards tend to be more open to accepting those with little to no credit. They ask for a lump sum of cash instead, to act as collateral in case you fail to make payments.

The catch is that secured cards typically come with higher interest rates and fewer rewards—but think of these as a stepping stone to getting a better credit card.

If a secured card isn’t for you, there are also a bunch of unsecured cards that can help you increase your credit score.

Here are some of the best credit cards for credit building with poor credit:

• Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

• Tomo Credit Card

• Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card

• Credit One Visa for Rebuilding Credit

To keep that credit score in check, you should aim to keep your credit utilization rate below 30%.

Your credit utilization rate is your overall amount of revolving balance divided by the total amount of credit you have available.

For example, one card has a revolving balance of $200 and a limit of $1,000—and your other card has a balance of $150 and a $600 limit. This means you have a total $350 revolving balance and a $1,600 credit limit.

Divide $350 by $1,600—and you’re left with a credit utilization rate of 21.8%.

To keep your utilization down and maintain a good credit score, you can pay off your balances on time, reduce spending, and increase your credit limit.

If you thought the only good things to come from spending were food, new clothes, and a sunburnt nose after a trip to Hawaii—you’d be wrong.

While splurging too much can damage your credit score, responsible spending is actually one of the best ways to establish credit.

This includes making payments on—

• Utility bills

• Loan repayments

• Phone bills

• Rent

• Credit card payments

Many of these payments are reported to the credit bureaus, which can help raise your credit score. And if you need a helping hand, there are a bunch of programs and services that can teach you the best ways to start building credit.

Experian Boost is a free service that can show you how to build credit with no credit. All you need to do is connect your bank or credit card, and they’ll add your bill payments to your credit file.

The bills covered include—

• Phone or landline

• Internet

• Gas and electricity

• Water

• Cable and satellite

If you’re all set to pay those bills, you have to do it the right way. One key thing you need to know about how to get credit is that you need to make on-time payments.

As we said, your payment history makes up 35% of your overall credit score.

The credit bureaus aren’t judging you on your excessive shoe-shopping habit—but they are paying attention to whether or not you’re making punctual payments.

Whether it’s your phone bill or the dreaded heating bill in winter—if you pay on time, you stand a good chance of boosting your credit as you’re showing financial responsibility.

If you’re like me and forget your door keys immediately after popping outside in your pajamas—set reminders or automated payments so you never miss a beat.

When it comes to paying rent, many landlords can’t (or won’t) report your payments to the credit bureaus. In that case, Rent Reporters are on hand to report your rent for you, which they say can help increase your credit score in as little as ten days.

We won’t beat around the bush, taking out a loan can be risky—especially if you’re struggling to make the repayments, as this can seriously damage your credit score.

But if you need the cash (and you’re confident you’ll be able to pay everything back), making on-time loan repayments is one of the best ways to build your credit.

If you plan on going to college, you could also take out a student loan, which you’ll need to pay back in installments.

The student loan will be linked to your credit score, even if your parents are signed as guarantors or cosigners—as long as the loan is in your name.

If you’ve managed to get your hands on a credit card, handle it with care. (Just imagine it’s a big box filled with tiny kittens and a big “Fragile” label stamped across it.)

We’re not trying to scare you away, but if you’re learning how to establish credit at 18, you need to start building up good financial habits that will hopefully last you a lifetime.

Try not to spend beyond your means. Having a monthly budget can help you stay on top of your finances while making on-time payments. It could also keep you out of debt (which never looks good on your credit report).

If you want to start building credit from no credit, you should also keep an eye out for credit cards that accept those with bad credit scores. Eventually, you’ll have enough credit to move onto a better card with more perks.