If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
[ QUOTE ]
I'll give you the same advice I gave my son as well as his young fans. Find a bank that you feel you would like to do extended business with. Establish a checking account and if possible, a savings account. Once you've entered funds in the checking account, you can apply to the bank for a credit card. They normally base your line of credit around your checking/savings account balance. My son was issued a $500 line of credit by VISA. That amount will increase over time as long as your account balances increase and you pay your credit card bills on time.
Establishing good credit is not that hard. Keeping good credit lines is the tough part and it all revolves around your spending discipline. Good luck.
[/ QUOTE ]
Lending money has been my primary source of income for the last eight years and I have to admit, I couldn't have said this better.
The proper maintenance of your credit rating is the long term issue you need to get your head around. Assuming you are able to secure a credit card, I would advise you to follow some of the advice given by others and utilize the credit only when you are confident that you can repay your existing balance in full. Revolving debt can be a very tough cycle to break and is often the downfall of many young credit seekers.
I have been fortunate/wise enough to build a strong credit rating but it has taken years of discipline to maintain it. I have never extended my credit to purchase a guitar or any other gear...if I don't have the liquid cash, I will not buy it. The only guitar action my cards see is to secure a transaction, i.e, a deposit, or for an online purchase that I can repay immediately. This limits the number of guitars I purchase every year, but I don't owe a dime on one of them. This makes it easier to make a "bro deal" in the classifieds - I don't have to worry about losses or breaking even.
I live on cash and it sucks because I am 30 years old and have zero credit history. I can't get a loan, I can't do anything as I do not exist. I have been told people with bad credit are more likely to get a loan than I am.
Comment