6 lessons I’d tell my younger self about credit cards

Aug. 16, 2024

•

8 min read

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Some people collect stamps, others collect trading cards or coins. But if you're like many of us at TPG, you likely collect credit cards.

With 10 credit cards in my wallet, chances are I have more credit experience than the average 20-something.

I'm proud to say that I have never missed a payment while juggling nearly a dozen credit cards. In turn, my credit cards have helped me earn thousands of points and miles for travel to places far and wide — all while building up an excellent credit score.

Based on what I know now, here are the six lessons about credit I would have liked to tell my younger self.

Get started

There's a quote attributed to Norman Vincent Peale: "Any action is better than no action at all." This principle applies to various facets of life, but it especially rings true for credit newbies.

For most of us, your first card probably won't be The Platinum Card® from American Express. Not only does this luxury travel card come with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), but it also requires a good to excellent credit score to qualify.

To be approved for a premium card like the Amex Platinum, you'll need sufficient credit history to prove to issuers that you can make monthly payments. That's why developing a credit strategy as soon as possible is important — even if you're not applying for a premium card.

I started my credit journey on my 18th birthday. As a present to myself, I applied for a student credit card.

While it did not come with all the bells and whistles of my current cards (some of which carry $500-plus annual fees), it taught me invaluable lessons on managing my credit and mastering the art of financial responsibility.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Ultimately, your first card should have no annual fee on your first card, which means it will be limited in perks. That's expected, though, since the first year is about building up your credit portfolio.

Follow two rules

You don't need to be a credit expert to apply for and manage your first credit card, though you should know what you're signing up for. If you take away anything from this guide, remember these two rules:

Pay your monthly balance on time and in full — every month.
Never charge more than what you can afford.

Whether this means you set up automatic payments, create weekly reminders to check your account balance or use your card only for essential expenses, abiding by these principles will ensure that you keep your credit in tip-top shape.

Opening a line of credit comes with a ton of responsibility, but these two simple rules will help you avoid interest charges and late fees. They'll also improve your credit score over time, bringing me to my next point.

Avoid misinformation

I grew up thinking that credit cards are evil and issuers are here to prey on innocent consumers to boost profit margins. Sound familiar?

There is a lot of misinformation and incorrect assumptions about credit cards. Many of us were taught that debit cards are a smarter financial choice than credit cards; in many cases, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Fortunately, we're here to debunk some of the most common credit card myths:

Take time to research what your credit score means and why it's so important — and then take steps to keep it as high as possible.

Shop around

For most beginners, opening a credit card with a bank where you already hold a checking or savings account is easiest. For me, that was absolutely the case. I opened a student card with Wells Fargo because I didn't know what my other options were.

Of course, it's nice to have your credit card and general banking statement streamlined into one account — a good option for those who don't want to manage multiple logins.

But I'd advise my younger self to shop around. If you're studying, student credit cards are a great place to start — and the options have drastically improved over the years.

If I could do it all over again, I would open a student credit card with Capital One or Discover. Here are my top recommendations:

The best part of any of these cards is that there's no minimum to redeem your rewards (even if it's just $10 cash back to cover a meal at Chipotle), which would have been a game changer as a college student.

The information for the Discover it Student Cash Back has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Avoid foreign transaction fees

While paying your bills in full and on time can avoid interest charges and late fees, other fees are associated with credit cards. One of the most common — especially on student cards and many no-annual-fee cards — is swiping them outside the U.S.

I didn't know about foreign transaction fees while studying abroad in Paris, which cost me hundreds of dollars. Both my debit and credit cards charged a 3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase — and you can only imagine how much that starts to add up over time.

If you're traveling internationally, you can avoid these pesky charges by opening a card that waives foreign transaction fees. The Capital One student cards mentioned above waive these fees. Also, check out our guide for the best cards with no foreign transaction fees.

Earn points and miles

Once you master the fundamentals of credit, it's time to expand your horizons.

Whether for spring break or summer vacations, points and miles can unlock hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars in "free" travel.

Eventually, it became time to put my cash-back card in my (figurative) sock drawer and apply for my first travel credit card.

I wish I had applied for my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card sooner; it's truly one of the best cards for earning and redeeming points for travel. It comes with a $95 annual fee, a generous sign-up bonus, terrific earning rates and other benefits to boot. Read our full review for more information on this great card.

Combining everyday purchases and travel spending on a card like the Sapphire Preferred can help you accrue thousands of points and miles annually.

When you're ready to up your rewards game, you should probably hold onto that first credit card you opened — especially if it has no annual fee. Canceling a card can have a detrimental impact on your credit score. You also should charge something small on the card every few months to prevent the issuer from preemptively closing your account due to inactivity.

Bottom line

When it comes to credit cards, you'll hear all sorts of conflicting advice from your friends and family. As I gained firsthand experience with my credit cards, I quickly learned many lessons that changed my perspective on money.

By treating credit cards as a tool to improve my finances, I've been able to reap all the benefits. I hope you can, too.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.

Featured image by ORLI FRIEDMAN/THE POINTS GUY

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.