
Originally Posted by
JennB
I was in a hurry this morning so now I'll elaborate on the original question. It sounds like you've already started building some credit. Do you know your score? Have you made any late payments on any of the lines of credit you've had in the past? Do you have multiple credit lines already open?
You should go to the websites for the major companies like Bank of America, Capitol One, Citibank, etc. and just browse through their offers. If you have a decent income and the things you have paid on in the past were paid on time and have a year or more history behind them, you should be able to pick out a card that suits your need, low APR, no annual fees and go for it. Don't try for the platinum card first thing, it's likely that won't happen. Look for a company with a good range of cards so if you aren't approved for the one you pick, they may offer you an alternative. For example. BoA offers everything from a platinum card down to a fully secured card. If you apply for one and aren't eligible, they will offer you something that you can get. They have gold, platinum, regular cards, partially secured and fully secured. They also review your account at least once per year and will "promote" you so to speak if you pay on time and your credit builds.
Other than paying on time and just being generally responsible, the best way to build credit is time. Get a card and hold onto it. Opening new accounts constantly will bring your score down.