 TITLE: How to Get Credit for the First Time CONTENT: Keep Track of Your Credit Score and Report\n------------------------------------------\nWhen you kick off a fitness regimen, you probably weigh and measure yourself as you go to track your progress. As you begin to build credit, you should check your credit reports and scores periodically to see how your efforts are paying off.\nGet a free credit report and review it regularly to make sure it accurately reflects your credit accounts. You can get a free credit report through Experian anytime (it updates every 30 days). And you can get a free credit report from all three major credit bureaus every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com.\nYou'll need to have a credit account for six months before your FICO® Score can be generated, although some credit scoring models will generate a score earlier. After six months, check your credit score to see how it's doing, and continue checking it regularly to see your progress as you build a credit history. You may be new to credit now, staying on top of your credit score will always be a smart idea. END