How to Build Up Your Credit Score

Unless you are made of money, you will need to have a good credit rating at some point or another to finance a car, house, etc. Here are a few tips on how to raise your credit rating to a good level so you'll have longer finance times and lower interest rates!
Instructions
Step 1
Starting out, you will have credit score of 0. This means to get a credit card, you will more than likely need a co-signer. A parent or close friend with good credit would be an ideal choice for a co-signer. Don't forget to make payments though, as this will hurt both your credit ratings and defeat your purpose.
Step 2
Try to buy something at least once a month with your credit card and pay it off. This will raise your credit score and avoid the high interest rates most credit cards carry with them.
Step 3
You can always check your current credit rating using a site such as FreeCreditReport.com . However, this service will begin to charge you each month, so cancel it promptly if you wish to avoid the fees.
Step 4
Take advantage of sales and promotions, such as Best Buy's no interest for X amount of months, depending on the price of the item you're buying. This means you can draw out your payments on the product over the 0% interest term and raise your credit score while paying a small monthly balance.
Step 5
All credit card companies have incentives, such as points or cash back for buying certain items, such as gas or groceries. Utilize these credit card benefits as much as you can.

How to Keep a Good Credit Score

During this day and time, many purchases that we make will need to be used with credit. If you must purchase something on credit, having a higher score is definitely desirable! Here are some tips to help keep your credit score at a level that will allow you great competitive interest rates!
Instructions
Step 1
First off, you need to establish credit if you haven't yet. This can be done by having someone close to you, a friend or family member, "co-sign" on a credit card and/or purchase to help you establish credit. You start off with no credit whatsoever and this is built up by buying things with your credit card and paying it off accordingly.
Step 2
Now that you have credit, do your best to keep your credit card balance(s) at or below 25% of your limit. Keeping your balance at this percentage or below lets the credit card companies that you are very likely to continue paying off your debt and are a reliable borrower. This will maintain or increase your credit score!
Step 3
If you are a college student and have taken out school loans, these is "good debt" and will help your credit score as it shows you are trying to better yourself and will probably end up making more money once you get out of school and pay them off.
Step 4
Don't just casually open up new credit cards at very many places or keep too many credit lines open. If you have a credit card that has been inactive for a very long time, occasionally make a small purchase and pay it off or cancel the card altogether. You want to make yourself appear as reliable as possible to the credit agencies and keeping too many credit lines open defeats this purpose!
Step 5
Always at least pay the minimum on your balance! This will prevent any credit reports being filed on you which can drastically lower your score. Paying at least the minimum payment each month shows that you are trying to work on the balance instead of not paying anything at all.

Tips & Warnings
* Learn from people around you with good credit scores
* Don't take on more debt than you can handle
* Only accept credit cards with low interest rates
* Keep low balances!