You have a basic understanding of what credit is and why you need it. Now it's up to you to build your credit and keep it in good standing.¹ Here are some tips.

1. Pay your bills on time. Make sure you know when all your bills are due, and have a process to pay them before or by the due date.
2. Be proactive. Check your credit report. If you believe your credit report contains inaccurate information, you can dispute it with your creditor and/or with the credit reporting agency. Get your credit report online from www.annualcreditreport.com.
3. Create a budget. A basic budget will show you where your money is going. By creating a budget, you can track your outstanding debt and work toward paying it off.
   
4. Notify creditors when you move. It's important that you inform all your creditors of your new address so that you continue to receive important information about your account.