How I Built a 750 Credit Score from Zero in 18 Months Easy

Did you know that 26 million Americans are “credit invisible”? Yeah, I was one of them! When I tried to get my first apartment at 22, the landlord looked at me like I had three heads when he couldn’t find any credit history.

Building credit when you’ve got absolutely nothing to show is like trying to get a job without experience. Everyone wants to see your track record, but nobody wants to be the first to give you a shot. Trust me, I’ve been there, and it’s frustrating as heck!

But here’s the thing – you can totally build credit from scratch. I went from having zero credit history to a 750 score in about 18 months, and I’m gonna share exactly how I did it (including the dumb mistakes that set me back).

Why Having No Credit History Is Actually a Problem

So here’s what nobody tells you about having no credit. It’s almost as bad as having bad credit! I learned this the hard way when I tried to get a phone plan and they wanted a $500 deposit. For a phone plan!

Without credit history, you’re basically a ghost to lenders. They can’t tell if you’re responsible with money or if you’re gonna skip town with their cash. And let me tell you, being a financial ghost affects way more than just loans.

I couldn’t rent that apartment without a cosigner, my car insurance was crazy expensive, and forget about getting a decent credit card. Some employers even check credit now! It was a real wake-up call that I needed to get my credit game together, like, yesterday.

Start With a Secured Credit Card (My First Smart Move)

After getting rejected for like five regular credit cards (yeah, that hurt), I finally discovered secured cards. These babies are specifically designed for people with no credit or bad credit. You basically put down a deposit that becomes your credit limit.

I started with the Discover it Secured Card – put down $200 and that became my limit. The cool part? They actually give you cash back rewards, which most secured cards don’t do. Plus, after 8 months of on-time payments, they review your account for graduation to an unsecured card.

Here’s my rookie mistake though – I maxed it out immediately buying stuff I didn’t need. Big no-no! Keep your utilization under 30% (so if you have a $200 limit, don’t use more than $60). I learned that one the hard way when my score barely budged for months.

Become an Authorized User (The Cheat Code)

This trick is golden if you’ve got family with good credit. My mom added me as an authorized user on her oldest credit card, and boom – suddenly I had 15 years of credit history!

Now, you gotta be careful here. If the primary cardholder misses payments or carries high balances, it’ll hurt your credit too. Make sure whoever adds you has their financial act together. And some cards don’t report authorized users to credit bureaus, so check first!

I never even used the card – just being associated with that good payment history helped my score jump like 50 points in a month. It felt like I found a cheat code in a video game, not gonna lie.

Try Credit Builder Loans (The Backwards Loan)

Okay, these things confused me at first. With a credit builder loan from Self, you don’t get money upfront. Instead, the “loan” amount goes into a savings account that you can’t touch.

You make monthly payments, and at the end, you get your money back minus some interest and fees. It’s basically forced savings that builds credit. Weird, right?

I did a 12-month, $25/month plan. Yeah, I paid about $9 in fees total, but it added another positive account to my credit report. Every little bit helps when you’re starting from zero!

Get Credit for Your Regular Bills

This one blew my mind – you can actually get credit for paying stuff like your phone bill and utilities! Services like Experian Boost let you add these payments to your credit report.

I connected my bank account, and it found two years of on-time phone and electric payments. My score went up 13 points instantly! It only works for your Experian report, but hey, free points are free points.

Some people worry about connecting their bank account, but Experian’s legit. They use read-only access, so they can’t mess with your money. Still felt weird giving them access though, not gonna lie.

Avoid These Credit-Building Mistakes I Made

Man, I made some doozies. First, I applied for way too many cards at once when I started seeing my score improve. Each application is a hard inquiry, and too many makes you look desperate to lenders.

I also closed my secured card as soon as it graduated to unsecured. Bad move! Length of credit history matters, so keep those old accounts open. Just sock drawer the card if you don’t wanna use it.

Oh, and don’t fall for those credit repair scams on social media. Nobody can “fix” your credit overnight or create a new credit identity for you. That’s straight-up fraud, and it’ll land you in way worse trouble than having no credit.

Your Credit Journey Starts Today

Building credit from nothing isn’t instant, but it’s totally doable. I went from credit invisible to qualifying for a car loan with decent rates in under two years. The key is starting now and being consistent.

Pick one or two strategies that work for your situation. Maybe it’s a secured card, maybe it’s asking mom to add you as an authorized user. Whatever you choose, make those payments on time, every time. Set up autopay if you’re forgetful like me!

Remember, everyone with great credit started where you are now. They just started earlier! For more tips on managing your money and building financial health, check out other posts at The Clear Cents. We’re all about making cents of this stuff together!