 TITLE: How Do I Build Credit if I Don’t Want a Lot of Credit Cards? CONTENT: 2\\. Make On-Time Payments\n-------------------------\nJust as it's important to be on time for a work shift or a doctor's appointment, it's also important to be on time with your payments.\nPayment history is the No. 1 factor in calculating your credit score. Just one payment made more than 30 days late will likely cause your credit score to drop. Lenders, such as mortgage providers and credit card issuers, examine your payment history to determine whether to approve your application and how much credit you deserve.\nYour payment history makes up 35% of your FICO® Score☉ , the credit score used by most lenders. Other than credit card bills, payments for credit products like personal loans, auto loans and mortgages go into figuring your FICO® Score. END