 TITLE: How to Build and Maintain Good Credit at Every Stage of Life CONTENT: How to Build Credit When You're College\n---------------------------------------\nCollege, for many, is an ideal time to begin building credit. You'll have a few years of practice and credit history behind you by the time you graduate from school, when you may want to buy a car or get your own rewards credit card.\nIdeally, while in college, you'll build positive payment history on an account that doesn't come with a lot of risk of accruing debt. For instance, you could consider opening a secured credit card, which typically comes with a comparatively low credit limit—say, $250 or $500. You'll need to pay a deposit usually in the same amount as your credit limit, and you'll use the card like you would a traditional card. To benefit the most from a secured card, make small charges and pay them off right away, or at least by the end of the month. That way you'll give your credit score the best shot at improving.\nAfter a period of time of responsible use, your issuer might convert the card to an unsecured credit card, potentially with a higher credit limit. But you'll learn how to spend within a budget and pay off your purchases on time. Another credit-building option is joining another person's account as an authorized user, which lets you make charges on the account and benefit from the primary user's positive payment history. But you won't be responsible for paying the bill each month. This can be a good option if you know the primary user manages their credit card well, paying all bills on time and maintaining low balances. END