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THE ADULTFILES
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Building credit

Your first card, your first score, and the landlord checking it: how to build credit without paying for it.

MONEY

  1. The files

    MONEY
    FILE 004

    How do credit cards actually work?

    How credit cards work: the limit, interest, minimum vs statement balance, late payments, cash advances and the 7 first-card rules. Free calculator. US + Canada.

    Last reviewed · Open
    MONEY
    FILE 005

    How do you build credit from zero?

    How to build credit from zero: the 6-month rule, what a good score is, why scores differ, late payments, disputes vs goodwill letters, scams. US + Canada.

    Last reviewed · Open

Free tools for this moment

Tool 04First Card CalculatorBefore you tap: see what a purchase really costs on a credit card, how long the minimum keeps you paying, and how to pay $0 interest.Run your numbers Tool 05Credit Score SimulatorNo score, a late payment, high balances or an error? See what actually moves your score, how long it lasts, and get the letter that fixes it.Run your numbers
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