 TITLE: Credit Mistakes to Avoid When You Are Young CONTENT: 1\\. Waiting to Build and Establish Credit\n-----------------------------------------\nNo one comes into the world with good credit. In fact, until you begin using credit, you won't have a credit report or score. For most, establishing credit means starting small with a low line of credit that may require a security deposit. And if you think about it, that's not a bad place for a young person to start. You get a card to use for emergencies or to cover expenses without too much risk of running up a giant balance.\nMore importantly, you get the opportunity to learn how credit works—how to manage an account, make timely payments, mind your credit limit and avoid overspending. Play your cards right, and you'll graduate with solid credit to help launch you into independent adulthood.\nHere are two ways to establish credit when you're young:\n*   **Get added as an authorized user.** One place to start is to be added to a parent's or loved one's credit card account as an authorized user. Apple now allows parents to add children ages 13 and older to their Apple Card Family accounts as \"participants\" with optional spending limits; family members 18 and older may be added as co-owners on the account. The Apple Card isn't the only card that allows parents to designate their children as authorized users: Have your parents check with their card companies for options. As an authorized user, you will benefit from the primary cardholder's payment history, get your own credit card and be allowed to make purchases on the card (as long as the primary cardholder agrees).\n*   **Open your own credit card.** A few **student credit cards**, including the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One, allow you to open an account with no security deposit. Alternatively, **secured cards** are common for those with little or no credit history. With a secured card, you provide a deposit upfront that is typically equal to your credit line: A $200 deposit typically secures a $200 credit limit, for example. If you were to default on your credit card balance, the card issuer would use this deposit to pay off your debt. After a period of successful card management, your card issuer may refund your deposit or raise your credit limit.\nCredit cards are a great way to build credit—but they can also start you off on the wrong foot if you're not careful. That brings us to the next credit mistake you'll wait to avoid. END