Here how parents can help boost their kids’ credit score
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Images By Tang Ming Tung | Digitalvision | Getty Images Parents who want to help jumpstart their kid’s credit score and credit history can take one fairly easy step, money experts say: Add your child as an authorized user to your credit card account. The goal is to have a child build credit from a relatively early age by piggybacking off their parent’s — i.e., the primary account holder’s — good credit. The strategy is generally best for kids in their later teenage years, maybe around 16 years old, or even those in their early 20s, said Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at CreditCards.com. Parents can think of it as a “stepping stone” to building credit, he said. “It’s gotten harder to establish credit in your own name, and this is one of the tools to get around that,” said Rossman. “It can really help a lot.” Allowing kids to use a credit card — and showing them how to pay off the debt responsibly — can also “help them learn healthy credit card management skills early on,” said Andrea Woroch, a consumer finance expert. Why building credit is important Things to consider Mihailomilovanovic | E+ | Getty Images Parents should only try this authorized user strategy if they themselves have good credit, experts said. “As long as you pay your bill on time and don’t carry a hefty balance each month, your child will benefit from your positive credit history and credit score, helping them to establish and build credit,” Woroch said. They should also ideally have an end date in mind. Perhaps for one to three years, depending on the circumstances, Rossman explained. Importantly, this would not be a joint account. Legally, the primary accountholder is responsible for all the authorized user’s transactions — meaning a parent…
Filed under: News - @ December 2, 2024 5:23 pm