Good credit is an important part of life and for those young adults who need student loans for college, their first car, or a new home, the lack of a credit history can be a problem. There are quick ways to build good credit and establish a positive credit history. Responsible financial habits, when established early, can ease the transition to adulthood and financial independence.

Here are the best ways to build a good credit score fast.

Why You Need To Build Credit

As a young adult or recent college graduate you may be wondering why it is important to build credit in your early 20’s. If you needed financial aid and student loans to get through college then you likely had your parents co-sign your debt, meaning the financial institution who issued your funds was willing to overlook your lack of credit history. However, as the real world looms and your parents are no longer offering you a financial cushion, getting credit can prove to be more challenging.

Due to the lack of financial education in the United States, many millennials who are just starting out in the world may not realize how crucial a good credit score history is to financial security and independence. Here are just a few ways your credit score is used and why you need to build your credit fast.

• Credit Card Companies– Credit card issuers use your credit history to approve or decline applications. Once you are approved, a credit score can determine how high or low your interest rates are. Similarly, if you need more credit to purchase higher-priced items, you may need a credit limit increase.
• Home Loans and Mortgages– These are likely the largest purchases you’ll ever make. The interest you pay on your mortgage will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on where you live. Because of the amount of a home loan, a higher interest rate due to a low credit score or bad history can cost home buyers tens, if not hundreds, or even thousands more in interest payments.
• Auto Loans– When buying a new or used car, most adults often finance their purchase. The final amount you pay for this depreciating asset should be as low as possible to help you divert extra cash to other activities that actually create wealth, such as investing. Your credit score and history may either earn you a no-interest loan or overburden you with higher monthly rates.
• Getting A Job– Many employers check your credit score to determine your financial habits. The idea is that a financially responsible individual who manages his/her own finances well is likely to be a better employee.
• Car Insurance Coverage– No one likes paying insurance premiums, yet auto insurance is mandatory in the United States. Furthermore, statisticians have found a positive relationship between people with high credit scores and safe driving. For this reason, the best car insurance companies in most U.S. states check your credit score to determine your insurance rates, offering a discount to drivers with strong credit.
• Business Loans– Buying a business tends to be the surest way to financial independence in the United States. However, as a first-time business buyer most purchases require the cooperation of the Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA loans often require a sizable as well as a strong credit history to get approved. Having no or bad credit can be the difference between the ability to buy a business and being forced to pass up an incredible financial opportunity.

Now that you know why you should care about building up credit, let’s discuss how to actually do it!

It Starts With Your Job

In order to build credit and establish a history, an individual must have a stable income and for most people that means getting and keeping a job. Whether the job is part or full time, an employment history is the first step to building credit.

It is important to remain employed at the same job for at least a year unless, in the case of students, the job is temporary or seasonal. Jumping from job to job causes your income to be unstable, making it difficult to get credit.

Open Bank Accounts

High school and college students can establish checking and savings accounts at local banks or credit unions. While having bank accounts will not improve your credit score, it will establish you as a customer and may make it easier to obtain credit through your financial institution.

It is also important to maintain the accounts in good standing since overdrafts can have a negative impact on your relationships with the bank. With a savings account and a decent income most people over age eighteen can obtain a secured credit card or loan.

Apply for Secured Credit Cards

Debit cards, which are issued with checking accounts, do not report to credit bureaus and will not build your credit history. A secured credit card has a credit limit equal to the amount in a savings account that is used to ensure the principal of the loan will be paid if the account holder defaults on the payments.

These credit card companies make regular reports to credit agencies and can improve your credit score and establish a payment history. The money in the savings account that secures the card cannot be withdrawn unless the card is paid off and cancelled.

Like other credit cards, secured cards have monthly payments that must be made on time to build a good credit history. The best strategy may be to use the card only for essential monthly expenses and to pay it in full each month.

Interest rates on secured cards can be high and by paying the card off each month, cardholders avoid paying interest while their timely payments improve their credit score and build a good credit history.

Consider Secured Loans

The first loan many young adults obtain is a car loan which is a type of secured loan. The loan is secured by the value of the car and if the debtor does not make the payments when they are due, the lender repossesses the vehicle.

As a rule, banks and credit unions offer lower interest rates on car loans than finance companies. Plus, being a customer of the bank you get the loan from increases your chances of being approved.

Paying off a car loan is a great way to build a credit history fast, but it is important to keep monthly payments affordable. Include the cost of full coverage car insurance when deciding how much you can spend on a new or used car. Lenders require full coverage as a condition of the loan.

Getting Unsecured Credit Cards

Once you have established a good payment history for about one year you can apply for unsecured credit cards. If you already have a relationship with a bank, you are more likely to be approved for unsecured credit through their credit department.

The credit limit on unsecured cards is based on your credit score, payment history, income, and outstanding debt. Just as with secured cards, it is important to pay these cards in full each month to show responsible spending habits.

Shop around before applying for a credit card. Different cards may have different interest rates and some have rewards programs that offer cash back on everyday purchases. You should also consider the fees that apply to the cards since some have annual fees while others may charge high transaction fees, especially for cash advances.

Choose a card that fits your spending and lifestyle habits. It may be better to apply for a card with a higher interest rate and a good rewards program if you intend to pay off the full balance every month.

Automate Your Payments

If you forget to pay your bills on time it can hurt your credit history. Automating payments insures that all your bills get paid when they are due. There are two options for making automatic payments. You can either:

• authorize your bank to release the funds from your checking account on receipt of an electronic bill, or
• you can charge the payments to a credit card and pay off the credit card bill each month.

Using a credit card will improve your credit score and help build your credit history as you pay your regular monthly expenses.

Do Not Apply for Multiple Loans or Credit Cards

If you apply for several credit lines at once, it will have a negative impact on your credit score and can hurt your credit history. It is better to apply for one line of credit and allow some time between credit applications.

Each time a lending institution pulls your credit report, it lowers your credit score unless you are comparison shopping for a single loan (e.g. auto loan) and apply through all the lenders within a 30 day period. This would be considered a single inquiry for your credit report.

Instead of applying for new credit cards, request an increase of the credit limit on the cards you already use. Nearly one third of your credit score is based on the ratio of your available credit to your actual debt. If you have a high credit limit with a low debt balance, it raises your credit score.

Even if you do not plan to use the additional credit, it is smart to apply for the increase since it will improve your score and credit history.

Final Word

It usually takes between one and three years of good payment habits to establish a credit history. A good credit score can help young adults who are seeking full time employment and housing for the first time since employers and landlords often pull credit reports when considering applicants. If you build your credit history fast and early, you will have a good head start on your financial future.

Ever wondered whether your credit card debt is the reason you’re in a bad financial situation? You can’t enjoy any fun activities because a good chunk of your money goes toward debt payment. Heck, you’re even behind on some of your monthly bills.

The effects of clumsy debt management are too many to list here. This guide is going to help you discover how to pay off credit card debt fast and start chasing your financial goals.

Debt problems are the last thing anyone wants to encounter. But things can get out of hand when all the “little debts” you take accumulate in interests.

What if you knew some simple and proven ways to be debt-free quickly? Implementing them would mean better financial health for you. It becomes possible to free up cash for your “wants.” These include taking a trip or buying something you’ve always desired. All that while paying your bills on time!

Let’s not wait any longer. Here are 7 powerful tips for paying off credit card debt fast:

1. Pay More Than the Minimum Credit Card Payments

Many people only pay the monthly minimum on their credit cards. Truly, that’s the right amount for staying on good terms with your credit card company. But you need a different approach if you’re looking to achieve financial independence within a short time.^[1]

Most of your payments go toward interest costs when you only pay the minimum amount. A substantial sum of your balance remains standing. As a result, it becomes more expensive to eliminate your debts.

You don’t want to wait more than 10 years to get rid of debt while it’s possible to do it sooner. All you have to do is double that $100 minimum payment to $200 or go higher.

The good thing is that minimum credit card payments are affordable in most cases. By paying a higher amount, you reduce your interest costs, lessen your borrowing period, and boost your credit score.

2. Start With High-Interest Credit Card Debt

If you have more than one credit card debt, prioritize putting the extra money toward the ones with the highest interests. This debt pay-off strategy, known as the debt avalanche method, is essential for being debt-free quickly.^[2]

First, you need to list down all the credit card debts you have in the order of their interest rates. Next, you choose the one with the highest interest and pay a significant amount toward it each month. It can be an amount twice or even thrice larger than the minimum payment.

At the same time, you make monthly minimum payments on the other debts. Their interest charges won’t be as costly as that of the first debt on your list. You only move on to the next high-interest debt after the first one is gone. Remember that your focus is on the interest rates and not the balances.

3. Revisit Your Budget

Budgeting is useful for tracking your financial moves. Once you create a budget, some tweaks along the way can make it work for you better. One situation that requires you to revisit your budget is when you’re struggling with debts. It might hurt a bit to slash some expenses. But you also don’t want to miss out on achieving financial freedom in the long run.

You can reduce some variable expenses to free up more cash for credit card debt payments. They’re the ones that change from time to time. Some examples are groceries, fuel, and clothing.

Other opportunities for cutting down your spending lie in non-essential expenses. Instead of dining out all the time, you can cook at home more to save money. You can also share some subscriptions with friends and pay a fraction of the cost.

If you’re determined enough, you can eliminate all your unnecessary expenses and focus on paying off your credit card debt first.

4. Avoid Using Your Credit Cards

Do you want to know how to pay off credit card debt with a low income? One simple way is to stop using them. Having your credit cards everywhere you go means that you’ll be more tempted to buy unnecessary stuff. In this case, you spend money that you don’t really own and get deeper into debt.

The quickest fix to stop the debt build-up is spending with cash. You’ll be more aware of everything you can afford at any particular time. If you decide to keep one or two cards to ease the transition, always make wise choices. For instance, only use them when experiencing financial difficulties.

It’s best to categorize your fun activities under “discretionary spending” in your budget. This way, you won’t need more debt to kill your boredom. By halting your credit debt from accumulating, it’s easy to pay down what you already owe and be happy with the progress.

5. Start a Side Hustle to Boost Your Income

You’re probably turning away a lot of money by not monetizing your skills. Everyone has something that they’re good at doing. And you can use that to generate extra income for attacking your credit card debt.

If you look around your neighborhood, you can find several side hustle opportunities. It can be pet sitting, tutoring, or lawn mowing. You can start an online business by offering services such as digital marketing, content creation, and web development. Such skills go in high demand on freelance sites and job boards.

Finding clients on social media is also a good strategy to utilize your skills and make more money. Facebook groups, Quora Spaces, and subreddits are some places to look for side jobs. You only have to join a niche-specific platform, share your services, and respond to any opportunities.

It’s possible to learn a skill, practice it, and earn from it. Use the free resources online or purchase some e-courses to get started.

6. Sell Your Used Items for Extra Cash

Starting a side hustle isn’t the only way to generate extra money. You can turn unwanted items into cash for paying off credit card debt. Whether it’s an old TV, book, or furniture, there is always someone itching to buy your used stuff.

A garage sale, as much as it’s old-fashioned, is perfect for getting your neighbors and passers-by to buy from you. You keep all the money because there are no business permits or taxes involved. While you may not make much cash, it’s better than leaving your stuff to go defunct in your storage.

Other than that, you can sell your used stuff on online marketplaces. Facebook groups are great places to start if you want quick approvals and hence sales. You only have to ensure that your listing follows Facebook’s commerce policies.

When selling any pre-owned items online, ensure they’re in good shape to avoid problems with your buyers.

7. Know When to Seek Help With Your Debt

Asking for help with your credit card debt can be challenging to do. But letting it drown you is a road you don’t want to take. While you may feel embarrassed at first, it’s the best way to get back on track when you run out of options.

There are tons of non-profit credit counseling organizations that can offer you free guidance on how to escape the debt trap. An example is The National Foundation for Credit Counseling. They simply review your finances and help you determine the source of your financial problems. After that, they match you with an actionable debt management solution.^[3]

In extreme cases, the debt solution can be:

• Debt relief – where your debt is partially or wholly forgiven
• Debt consolidation – taking out one loan to repay others
• Debt settlement – the creditor forgives a significant portion of your debt
• Bankruptcy – legal process for seeking relief from some or all your debts

It’s necessary to carefully weigh your options before deciding on the way to go. Find out how it might affect your credit score and any other risks.

Wrapping It Up

Debt is a major setback when you’re trying to prosper in life. Paying off credit card debt is essential if you want to reach your financial goals. That means having more free income, a good credit card score, and even a chance to retire early. You become more productive each day because of the peace in your mind.

So, you now have some tips on how to pay off credit fast. Go ahead and get rid of that good life progress killer!

More Tips on How to Pay Off Debt

• These 6 Practical Solutions Could Help You Pay off Debt Sooner
• 5 Things to Do When You Are Buried in Debt
• How to Pay off Debt Fast Using the Stack Method (A Step-By-Step Guide)

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