A Guide to Choosing Your First Credit Card (2023)

FAQs

A Guide to Choosing Your First Credit Card? ›

The most important principle for using credit cards is to always pay your bill on time and in full. Following this simple rule can help you avoid interest charges, late fees and poor credit scores. By paying your bill in full, you'll avoid interest and build toward a high credit score.

The most important principle for using credit cards is to always pay your bill on time and in full. Following this simple rule can help you avoid interest charges, late fees and poor credit scores. By paying your bill in full, you'll avoid interest and build toward a high credit score.

18 years old

Consumers can apply for credit cards starting at age 18, but the law requires them to have an independent income or a co-signer. However, most major issuers don't allow co-signers anymore. So, a person aged 18, 19 or 20 usually has to earn and prove their own income before being approved for a credit card.

The main difference between debit cards and credit cards is that a debit card is linked to a checking account, while a credit card is linked to a line of credit. When a purchase is made with a debit card, the funds immediately come out of the bank account.

First-time cardholders should shop around before they apply and look out for what interest rates and fees (such as annual fees and foreign transaction fees) that banks and credit card issuers charge.

Factors like limited income, debt from loans, unpaid bills, or limited credit history could also prevent you from qualifying for certain cards. Not being at least 18 years old will keep you from getting your own credit card account, too.

Students classify those characteristics based on the three C's of credit (capacity, character, and collateral), assess the riskiness of lending to that individual based on these characteristics, and then decide whether or not to approve or deny the loan request.

What are the 3 C's that credit card companies look for before issuing credit? ›

The factors that determine your credit score are called The Three C's of Credit - Character, Capital and Capacity. These are areas a creditor looks at prior to making a decision about whether to take you on as a borrower.

Pay your credit card bill in full

It's just like paying cash; you only spend as much as you have. If you only pay part of the balance, though, the remaining balance accrues interest.

2/3/4 Rule

Here's how the rule works: You can be approved for up to two new credit cards every rolling two-month period. You can be approved for up to three new credit cards every rolling 12-month period. You can be approved for up to four new credit cards every rolling 24-month period.

To maintain a healthy credit score, it's important to keep your credit utilization rate (CUR) low. The general rule of thumb has been that you don't want your CUR to exceed 30%, but increasingly financial experts are recommending that you don't want to go above 10% if you really want an excellent credit score.

It usually takes a minimum of six months to generate your first credit score. Establishing good or excellent credit takes longer. If you follow the tips above for building good credit and avoid the potential pitfalls, your score should continue to improve.

Factors that contribute to a higher credit score include a history of on-time payments, low balances on your credit cards, a mix of different credit card and loan accounts, older credit accounts, and minimal inquiries for new credit.

Share: Debit and credit cards are both used to pay for goods or services without paying in cash or writing a check. The difference between the two is where the money to pay for the purchase comes from.

Credit cards offer the most benefits and protection against fraud, making them the overall best payment option. However, credit isn't for everyone. If you have a track record of overspending, it may be better to stick with a debit card until you can responsibly manage credit.

Each lender has its own method for analyzing a borrower's creditworthiness. Most lenders use the five Cs—character, capacity, capital, collateral, and conditions—when analyzing individual or business credit applications.

What is the average credit score when you first get a credit card? ›

Instead, depending on how well you manage your credit, your first credit score might be around the 500 mark. The age of your oldest form of credit plays a role in your credit score. However, working on other aspects can even get your initial credit score to be around 700.

You need to have had credit to be approved for a credit card, but you can't get credit because you can't get approved. The first credit card is often the most difficult to get because you have to find a credit card issuer and a credit card that's suited for people without a credit history.

When you apply for a new card, the credit company may perform a hard pull of your credit report for review as part of the approval process. The inquiry on your credit history may lower your score but generally the impact is low on your FICO score (for most, this means fewer than 5 points).

Being denied for a credit card doesn't hurt your credit score. But the hard inquiry from submitting an application can cause your score to decrease. Submitting a credit card application and receiving notice that you're denied is a disappointment, especially if your credit score drops after applying.

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

Your income and employment history are good indicators of your ability to repay outstanding debt. Income amount, stability, and type of income may all be considered. The ratio of your current and any new debt as compared to your before-tax income, known as debt-to-income ratio (DTI), may be evaluated.

We believe the best credit cards for bad credit are secured cards. With these cards, you provide a security deposit, which protects the issuer in case you don't pay. (When you close or upgrade the account, you can get your deposit back.)

line of credit. so what this means. is that you are going to wait 91 days and. three full statement cycles before you decide. to ask either for a credit limit increase. or for a new line of credit all together. to maximize the amount of funding that you get.

What are 5 things credit card companies don t want you to know? ›

Not paying your bills on time or using most of your available credit are things that can lower your credit score. Keeping your debt low and making all your minimum payments on time helps raise credit scores. Information can remain on your credit report for seven to 10 years.

Total of payments, Payment schedule, Prepayment/late payment penalties, If applicable to the transaction: (1) Total sales cost, (2) Demand feature, (3) Security interest, (4) Insurance, (5) Required deposit, and (6) Reference to contract.

Rule #1: Always pay your bill on time (and in full) The most important principle for using credit cards is to always pay your bill on time and in full. Following this simple rule can help you avoid interest charges, late fees and poor credit scores.

If you've been approved for five cards in the past 24 months, you will not be approved for another Chase card thanks to the 5/24 rule.

With the 15/3 credit card payment method, you make two payments each statement period. You pay half of your credit card statement balance 15 days before the due date, and then make another payment three days before the due date on your statement.

The 15/3 credit card hack is a payment plan that involves making two payments during each billing cycle instead of only one. Anyone can follow the 15/3 plan but it takes some personal management and discipline. The goal is to reduce your credit utilization rate and increase your credit score.

Application Rules

You're limited to 1 approved credit card every 5-day rolling period and 2 approved credit cards every 90 day rolling period. This rule only applies to credit cards and not their charge cards.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, experts recommend keeping your credit utilization below 30% of your available credit. So if your only line of credit is a credit card with a $2,000 limit, that would mean keeping your balance below $600.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is a budgeting technique that involves dividing your money into three primary categories based on your after-tax income (i.e., your take-home pay): 50% to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt payments.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your credit utilization under 30 percent. This means that if you have $10,000 in available credit, you don't ever want your balances to go over $3,000. If your balance exceeds the 30 percent ratio, try to pay it off as soon as possible; otherwise, your credit score may suffer.

If you used a credit card or point of sale loan to buy goods or services, then the transaction could be covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This allows you to raise a claim against your credit provider if: you paid some (or all) of the cost by credit card or with a point of sale loan.

Average credit score for people in their 30s

The average credit score for those in their 30s is 672. By now, you may have a 10-year credit history, more lines of credit and more types of credit, like a car loan.

Credit scores are three-digit numbers that show an important piece of your financial history. Credit scores help lenders decide whether to grant you credit. The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore^® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score.

While credit scores can differ, the average score for 25 year old's is around 660. According to the FICO scoring model, a 660 is considered "fair." So what does that mean? While you can still qualify for loans & lines of credit, a fair credit score might leave you with fewer options.

The time it takes to increase a credit score from 500 to 700 might range from a few months to a few years. Your credit score will increase based on your spending pattern and repayment history. If you do not have a credit card yet, you have a chance to build your credit score.

A conventional mortgage requires a credit score of at least 620 to buy a house. Since many buyers choose a conventional loan, a 620 credit score might be considered normal. However, you can have a credit score below 620 and still buy a house. With the help of an FHA loan, you can have a credit score as low as 500.

The bottom line

If you can afford to do it, paying your credit card bills early helps establish good financial habits and may even improve your credit score.

How to build credit from $500? ›

Examining the C's of Credit

For example, when it comes to actually applying for credit, the “three C's” of credit – capital, capacity, and character – are crucial. 1 Specifically: Capital is savings and assets that can be used as collateral for loans.

These 3 C's of Credit are Character, Capital and Capacity based on which the lender decides on lending you. The score ranges from 300-900, and the ideal score to borrow an instant loan is 750.

Of the four main types of credit cards—Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover—Visa is by far the most common, making up 52.8% of cards in circulation.

Debit cards do not appear on your credit history or affect your credit score. When you use a debit card, the money is immediately taken out of your banking account. You are not borrowing money like you would with a credit card. Unlike with a credit card, you don't get a bill at the end of the month for your debit card.

Although you can't build your credit with a debit card, there are many other ways to get your credit profile started. This can include becoming an authorized user on someone else's credit account, getting your on-time rent or other bill payments reported to the credit bureaus, or opening a credit card account.

As such, if you have one of these cards, you might consider a $5,000 credit limit to be bad and a limit of $10,000 or more to be good. Overall, any credit limit of five figures or more is broadly accepted as a high credit limit. The main exception to the usual credit limit rules are secured credit cards.

While some credit cards are generally better than others, there's no single best credit card out there for everyone. Each card has its own set of features, fees and other terms, some of which can be a better fit for you than others based on your preferences, spending habits and credit.

What is a good first credit limit? ›

Generally, first-time credit card applicants receive small credit limits. A credit limit of $500 to $1,000 is average for a first credit card, but it may be higher if you have, say, a history of on-time car payments on your credit file.

The credit history you start with at 18 is a blank slate. Your credit score doesn't exist until you start building credit. To begin your credit-building journey, consider opening a secured credit card or ask a family member to add you as an authorized user on their account.

Lenders generally prefer that you use less than 30 percent of your credit limit. It's always a good idea to keep your credit card balance as low as possible in relation to your credit limit.

A good guideline is the 30% rule: Use no more than 30% of your credit limit to keep your debt-to-credit ratio strong. Staying under 10% is even better.

The cons of credit cards include the potential to overspend easily, which leads to expensive debt if you don't pay in full, as well as credit score damage if you miss payments.

Visa and Mastercard are by far the most widely accepted cards, with Discover slightly behind those brands and American Express in a distant fourth place. Any retailer that accepts card payments likely takes Visa and Mastercard.

The four major credit card networks are American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa. American Express and Discover also issue their own credit cards which differentiates them from Mastercard and Visa who are solely card networks.