Credit card to build credit?

[KatyaZamolodchikova]

Hi all.

Historically I wasn’t very good with money (didn’t have much and spent what I did have). This was around 10 years ago. Now I have a good job, good income and good savings. I live with DP, and have done for 7 years, in his house, that he owns, and has a mortgage for. We’re getting married next year, so will have spends coming up. We will have the money for this, about half already and a saving plan to ensure we’ll have the rest. I have other savings too, for longer term plans abs to cover short term emergencies.

We want to move 12-18 months after getting married, and as a FTB I am maxing out my help to buy isa. My credit is pretty good according to MSE’s credit club, but I fall down on not having any credit. At all. DP has a credit card, and we’ve just always used that.

But now I think it’s appropriate to get myself one. I can use it to pay wedding stuff & I know I’ll be able to pay in full everything I spend on it. The only thing is there are so many options and I don’t know what is likely to be the best one. All I wanted t is to be able to put bigger purchases on it, longer term things like holidays, or white goods, for example, and know I can pay it all off straight away.

Any advice or suggestions?!

Do a search on made on credit cards. There's a soft search that give a % of what you'll be accepted for.
Make sure you pay it off in full every month as soon as you get the bill.

Mse not made x

I use several credit cards - some for personal and some for business. The only sensible way to manage them, IMO, is to have every single one paid in full by direct debit every month. This helps nicely with the cash flow but without ever incurring interest or late payment fees. Of course, I never spend money I don't have but when was that ever a good idea? :)

I’m ok with managing it, I think, I’ll never use it for anything I don’t already have the money for & pay it off right away. The bit that’s confusing is how to pick one that’s right for me.

I don’t need 0% balance transfer, as I won’t use that, and I don’t think I need a cash back one, as I won’t be using it frequently or for day to day stuff. It all seems so complicated, I just want a regular credit card!

I used to work in banking and a credit card is the best way...but... leave a little on there every month so you pay a minimal amount of interest. It helps to see that you can manage credit long term, not just month to month.