• LCP
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    101 year ago

    By “arbitrarily take on debt for years”, are they referring to myth that you need to carry a balance on a credit card to help your credit score?

    If you aren’t aware, that is very much incorrect. All you’re doing is lining the pockets of the credit card company. Pay your credit card statement in full each month and don’t carry a balance to avoid paying interest.

    There are certain exceptions, but I’m considering them out of scope for this case.

    • @lunarul@lemmy.world
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      151 year ago

      You need to have a form of credit, like a credit card. Even if you pay it in full every month, that’s still debt. In my native country almost nobody owns credit cards, just debit cards. I’ve been living in the US for 12 years now, building credit wasn’t that hard, but it took several years, I have almost perfect score now and own a house, but the whole idea was dumb to me too when I started. And I still need to remind my wife that the money in our bank accounts is not really how much we have, because we need to subtract credit card balances out of it.

      • @Zeth0s@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Are we from the same country? Debt is something I don’t understand unless for a home or a car. If I have money to buy a tv, I pay in advance, or I wait until I have the money. I am not judging different points of view, just this is how I was raised

        • @PunnyName@lemmy.world
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          31 year ago

          If you have $500 for a few TV, and you want a positive credit score, buy the TV with a credit card. Then, before the interest kicks in, pay off the credit card.

          Rinse and repeat.

          It’s a stupid fucking game, tho.

      • LCP
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        11 year ago

        That’s fair. It absolutely is a debt.

        I just wanted to make sure that the 4chan OP wasn’t referring to debt as carrying a balance and paying interest. I know two people who were previously under this incorrect assumption and basically giving away money for free to their credit card companies.

      • LCP
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        11 year ago

        Are you confusing debt with credit line/limit, or am I misunderstanding your comment?

        If you are referring to debt, could you provide me with a source for your claim?

        I linked to myfico.com in my previous comment which is run by FICO - the company behind the FICO score. I think they would know a thing or two about what affects your credit score.