 TITLE: How Can a Starter Credit Card Help Build Credit? CONTENT: More Tips on How to Build Credit\n--------------------------------\nAs you use your new starter credit card, here are some things to keep in mind as you work on establishing your credit history from scratch:\n*   **Pay on time, every time**: A late payment won't be added to your credit report until it's been 30 days since you missed it. But it's still a good idea to pay your bill on time every month to avoid interest charges and fees (with most cards).\n*   **Keep your balance low**: Your credit utilization rate can have a significant effect on your credit score, so try to keep it at least below 30% at all times. To accomplish this, especially if you have a low credit limit, use the card sparingly or make multiple payments throughout the month.\n*   **Get added as an authorized user**: If you have a parent or other family member who uses credit cards responsibly, consider asking them to add you as an authorized user on their account. Once you're added, the entire card history will be added to your credit report, which can further help improve your credit scores.\n*   **Avoid unnecessary borrowing**: Once you start getting some momentum with building your credit, you may be tempted to apply for more credit cards or loans. While adding more tradelines, or accounts, to your credit report can help improve your scores, going into debt unnecessarily could make things worse in the long run.\nAs you start building your credit history, get your free credit score from Experian to keep track of your progress, and watch for potential issues that you need to address. Building credit can take time, but the benefits are worth the effort. END