 TITLE: How Do I Build Credit if I Don’t Want a Lot of Credit Cards? CONTENT: 5\\. Consider a Secured Credit Card\n----------------------------------\nA secured credit card enables you to build credit if you have bad credit, or if you have little or no credit history. For instance, it might help you if you have a bankruptcy or a series of late payments on your credit report.\nTo get a secured credit card, you must deposit a certain amount of cash, often $50 to $300. The card issuer then extends a credit line to you usually in the same amount as the deposit. This differs from an unsecured credit card, which doesn't require you to deposit money as collateral.\nIn most cases, the card issuer will report your secured card account to the credit bureaus, enabling you to build or improve your credit history. If you want to apply for a secured credit card, make sure this is the case since not all issuers report secured card accounts. Making on-time payments every month will demonstrate responsible credit use, and some issuers will even transition you to an traditional unsecured card once you've made a certain number of on-time payments or kept your account in good standing. END