{"id":252209,"date":"2025-05-22T15:06:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/airline\/5-mistakes-people-make-when-they-get-their-first-credit-card\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T15:06:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:06:11","slug":"5-mistakes-people-make-when-they-get-their-first-credit-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=252209","title":{"rendered":"5 mistakes people make when they get their first credit card"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Credit cards can make your life easier in many different ways when you use them responsibly. A well-managed credit card can help you build good credit, give you a valuable <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/cards-with-100k-point-bonuses\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">welcome bonus<\/a>, offer you <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/best-cards-purchase-protection\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">purchase protection<\/a> and help you travel the world courtesy of the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/beginners\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">points and miles<\/a> you earn along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Yet despite the many potential benefits, there are certain mistakes you&#8217;ll want to avoid when using credit cards. Fortunately, you can learn from others&#8217; experiences when you get your first credit card and try to avoid those same negative situations.<\/p>\n<p>Here are five of the top mistakes people make when they get their first credit card, along with tips on avoiding these blunders yourself.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"paying-late\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Paying late<\/h2>\n<p>One of the biggest mistakes you can make in credit card management is paying your bill after the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/important-dates-for-credit-cards\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">due date<\/a>. Late payments on credit cards could trigger several negative consequences, including late fees and having the card issuer increase the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/what-is-apr-on-a-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">annual percentage rate<\/a> on your account to the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/what-is-penalty-apr\/\">penalty interest rate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-3874346954 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-2453190082 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Man-on-telephone-while-looking-at-computer-and-holding-credit-card-at-home-office_-Rob-Lewine.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-3874346954 figcaption\">ROB LEWINE\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you fall 30 days or more behind on your payment, the credit card company could <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/late-payment-save-credit-score\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">report your account as late<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/three-major-credit-reporting-agencies\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">credit bureaus<\/a>. Late payments can <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/negative-information-credit-score\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">remain on your credit report for up to seven years<\/a>, potentially damaging your <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/how-credit-scores-work\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">credit score<\/a>. If you fall far enough behind on your credit card payment, your card issuer may opt to close your account.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/credit-score-drop\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">When you should (and shouldn&#8217;t) worry about a credit score drop<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"not-paying-the-full-balance\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Not paying the full balance<\/h2>\n<p>Another blunder you want to avoid when you open your first credit card is paying less than the full balance on your account each month. Paying your statement balance off each billing cycle is one of <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/ten-credit-card-commandments\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TPG&#8217;s 10 commandments of credit card rewards<\/a> \u2014 and for good reason.<\/p>\n<p>This habit can help you avoid paying expensive interest charges. Furthermore, paying off your credit card balance each month may help you protect your credit score.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-3874346954 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-2453190082 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Woman-looking-over-paper-bills-at-home_Natalia-Gdovskaia.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-3874346954 figcaption\">NATALIA GDOVSKAIA\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The relationship between your credit card limits and balances (known as your <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/credit-utilization-ratio-guide\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">credit utilization ratio<\/a>) has a meaningful impact on your credit score. The lower your credit utilization ratio, the better your credit score.<\/p>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_container__qYzYT tw-border tw-border-gray-2\"><picture class=\"EmailSignUp_graphic__zgpFm tw-opacity-0\"><source media=\"screen and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-mob.svg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-dt.svg\"\/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_form__C8FWb\">\n<p>Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n<form class=\"jsx-2618086009 newsletter-form\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2618086009 EmailCapture_confirmation__xasB3 EmailCapture_noCheckbox__n4fsN   \">\n<p class=\"tw-text-xs-regular !tw-text-gray-5 hover:!tw-text-gray-5 tw-max-w-lg\">By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our<!-- --> <a class=\"!tw-text-gray-5 hover:!tw-text-gray-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/terms-of-use\/\" target=\"_blank\">Terms of Use<\/a> <!-- -->and acknowledge the data practices in our<!-- --> <a class=\"!tw-text-gray-5 hover:!tw-text-gray-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You may unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A consistent habit of paying off your credit card balances could help you maintain a low credit utilization ratio, especially if you pay off your card balances before the statement closing date when your card issuer updates the account with the credit bureaus.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/magic-credit-card-utilization-number\/\">Is 30% credit card utilization the magic number?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"overspending\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Overspending<\/h2>\n<p>If you want to avoid credit card debt and be able to afford to pay off your statement balance each month, it&#8217;s critical to avoid overspending on your credit card account.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you&#8217;ve spent your whole life using cash and debit cards, it might take some practice to adjust to how credit cards work (at least from a budgeting perspective).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-3874346954 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-2453190082 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Person-using-computer-at-home-while-holding-credit-card_FreshSplash.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-3874346954 figcaption\">FRESHSPLASH\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Unlike a debit card, you can&#8217;t &#8220;see&#8221; when your credit card goes into the red (meaning you&#8217;ve spent more than your budget allows you to pay off each month).<\/p>\n<p>On a positive note, there are numerous <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/manage-spending-on-multiple-credit-card-accounts\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">budgeting apps<\/a> you can use to track your spending so you can enjoy the perks that credit cards have to offer without taking on the burden of <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/simple-rules-credit-card-debt\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">credit card debt<\/a> in the process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/travel\/budget-travel-misconceptions\/\">9 things people misunderstand about traveling on a budget<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"only-making-minimum-payments\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Only making minimum payments<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re a new credit card user or a seasoned pro, paying just the minimum amount due on your credit card bill is another critical mistake to avoid. In February 2025, the average credit card interest rate on interest-assessing accounts was nearly 22%, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalreserve.gov\/releases\/g19\/current\/\">according to the Federal Reserve<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-3874346954 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-2453190082 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.625%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/01\/Man-paying-bills-at-home-on-laptop_AleksandarNakic.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-3874346954 figcaption\">ALEKSANDERNAKIC\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So, if you roll an outstanding balance on your account from one month to the next, your debt levels have the potential to skyrocket in a hurry.<\/p>\n<p>Being in <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/hidden-ways-credit-card-debt-cost-money\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">credit card debt can cost money in hidden ways<\/a> as well. Not only could you pay hundreds or thousands of dollars over time in extra interest charges from revolving credit card debt, but you also risk damaging your credit score. Lower credit scores can lead to higher interest rates on loans and credit cards, making it more expensive to borrow money in the future.<\/p>\n<p>If you need to carry a balance on a card, consider a card with an <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/how-to-choose-zero-apr-credit-card\/\">introductory 0% APR period<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/should-you-carry-balance-on-zero-apr-cards\/\">Should you carry a balance on zero APR cards?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"getting-a-card-without-rewards\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Getting a card without rewards<\/h2>\n<p>As someone new to credit and still working to establish a good credit score, it can be difficult to qualify for <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/best\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">top-tier rewards credit cards<\/a>. Issuing banks often require applicants to have an established credit history and a solid credit score to be eligible for premium rewards credit cards.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, there are many credit cards available to people just <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/best-first-credit-cards\/\">starting in the credit card space<\/a>, and it&#8217;s often possible to find options that offer some form of rewards.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-3874346954 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-2453190082 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/04\/Couple-laying-in-bed-while-shopping-online-with-laptop-and-credit-card_Westend61.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-3874346954 figcaption\">WESTEND61\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When you start your credit-building journey, you might need to consider mid-tier credit cards with lower annual fees and moderate welcome bonuses.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, the rewards you can earn on your everyday spending can still be miles ahead (pun intended) of the debit card or cash you would otherwise be using to pay for your next transaction.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/why-credit-card-smarter-choice-than-debit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Credit vs. debit cards: Which is the smarter choice?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"bottom-line\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>With some planning, it&#8217;s easy to avoid common credit card mistakes that could cost you money and damage your credit score. Once you feel ready to handle a credit card, it&#8217;s a good idea to review your credit reports and <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/check-credit-score-for-free\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">scores<\/a> before you start filling out applications for new accounts. If you discover any errors on your credit reports, remember to <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/correct-errors-credit-report\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">dispute<\/a> them with the appropriate credit bureau.<\/p>\n<p>After you confirm that your credit is in decent shape, you can search for the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/how-to-choose-a-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best credit card for you<\/a>. Once you open your first credit card account, refer back to the above tips to ensure you manage it wisely and set yourself on a path to building even <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/how-new-credit-card-increase-credit-score\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">better credit for the future<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/best-credit-cards-building-credit\/\">The 6 best starter cards for building your credit<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit cards can make your life easier in many different ways when you use them responsibly. A well-managed credit card can help you build good credit, give you a valuable welcome bonus, offer you purchase protection and help you travel the world courtesy of the points and miles you earn along the way. Yet despite [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":121937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12028],"tags":[236,235,13668,3794],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-252209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-airline","tag-card","tag-credit","tag-mistakes","tag-people"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 mistakes people make when they get their first credit card - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=252209\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 mistakes people make when they get their first credit card - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Credit cards can make your life easier in many different ways when you use them responsibly. 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