Last week, we shared 4 quick tips to help boost your credit score. This week, we’re diving into a strategy that could set your children up with a credit score of 750 or higher before they even turn 18. __________________________________________________________________________
Quiz Question: What part of your credit score takes the longest to build up?
Answer: Credit History
Why does this take the longest?
Because to create "history" takes time. And lots of it.
What if there was a "cheat code" to giving your kids a jumpstart to their credit history?
Fortunately it's simple, and really just requires one step. See below:
1.) Add them as an authorized user on whichever 1-3 credit cards you have had the longest (Minimum of at least 5 years old).
*Make sure the card(s) you are adding them to don’t charge an additional fee for authorized users - this is a very important point.
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By the time they are an adult they’ll likely have:
- 750+ credit score
- Over 20 years of credit history
- Access to any loan they may need
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Remember from last week, the the 3 things that carry the most weight in determining your credit score are: - Payment History: How consistently you pay your bills
- Credit Utilization: What percentage of your available credit you’re using
- Credit History: How long your accounts has been open
Numbers 1 & 2 are easy to improve, but number 3 takes time. By adding them as an authorized user they get to piggyback off of your credit history.
*Only consider doing this if you yourself have a great credit score, otherwise they will be piggybacking off of your bad score which could negatively impact them.