Is 25 too late to build credit?
Fortunately, it's never too late to get started. If you want to stay organized with your finances, knowing how to manage your money and build and maintain your credit is an excellent first step. This could include checking your credit report and creating a budget so you don't carry a card balance.
For one thing, always educate yourself. If I had researched how credit cards really work, things might have been different. But also remember that it's never too late to start building credit. Every credit journey is unique to the one taking it, so blaze your own trail, no matter where -- or when -- you start.
You can establish credit at age 18, but it's never too early to start building credit. If you want to give your child a head start, there are ways for kids to start building credit as an authorized user on your credit card as young as age 13.
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
Anything less than two years is considered a short credit history. Once you have established between two and four years of credit, lenders will better understand how well you manage your credit accounts. A credit age of five years will raise your score as long as you've been managing your accounts well.
As of December 2023, 43 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 years stated they currently use credit cards. The survey was conducted in 2023, among 10,048 respondents. Access millions of exclusive survey results with Statista Consumer Insights.
| Generation | Average Credit Card Limit | Average Credit Score |
|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (age 18-25) | $11,290 | 679 |
| Millennials (age 26-41) | $24,669 | 687 |
| Generation X (age 42-57) | $35,994 | 706 |
| Baby Boomers (ages 58-76) | $40,318 | 742 |
Yes, a 22 year old should get a credit card, as this is one of the best ways to build a good credit score.
- Pay your bills on time. ...
- Get a credit card for beginners. ...
- Keep your credit utilization low. ...
- Become an authorized user. ...
- Consider a credit-builder loan. ...
- Keep tabs on your credit report.
One in five teenagers between the ages of 13-17 report having an ATM card (22%) or are an authorized user on their parent/guardian's credit card account (19%). However, a sizeable proportion (25%) say that they do not have any of these things.
What should a 24 year old credit score be?
In the U.S., the average credit score is 716, per Experian's latest data from the second quarter of 2023. And when you break down the average credit score by age, the typical American is hovering near or above that score.
Your FICO® Score falls within a range, from 740 to 799, that may be considered Very Good. A 750 FICO® Score is above the average credit score. Borrowers with scores in the Very Good range typically qualify for lenders' better interest rates and product offers.
Most negative items should automatically fall off your credit reports seven years from the date of your first missed payment, at which point your credit score may start rising. But if you are otherwise using credit responsibly, your score may rebound to its starting point within three months to six years.
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly mortgage payments.
A credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years. Information about a lawsuit or a judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer. Bankruptcies can stay on your report for up to ten years.
The average debt an American owes is $104,215 across mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, credit card debt, student loan debt, and other debts like personal loans. Data from Experian breaks down the average debt a consumer holds based on type, age, credit score, and state.
Even with that $16.9 trillion shared by about 340 million people, consumer debt statistics show that Americans are feeling the pain.
| Generation | Average credit card debt |
|---|---|
| Baby boomers (58–76) | $6,245 |
| Generation X (42–57) | $8,134 |
| Millennials (26–41) | $5,649 |
| Generation Z (19–25) | $2,854 |
However, multiple accounts may be difficult to track, resulting in missed payments that lower your credit score. You must decide what you can manage and what will make you appear most desirable. Having too many cards with a zero balance will not improve your credit score. In fact, it can actually hurt it.
Is 0 utilization bad?
While a 0% utilization is certainly better than having a high CUR, it's not as good as something in the single digits.
Average American credit card debt by age
Across the different age groups in 2022, Gen Z, ages 18-25, had the lowest average credit card debt, at $2,854. But Gen Z also saw the biggest credit card debt increase over the previous year, at 25.1%. Millennials were close behind, with a 23.4% increase.
Milestones like buying a car, owning a home, and paying off debts can depend on your creditworthiness. While it's never too late build credit, it's ideal if you can begin when you're still young.
But if you're in your 20s and just starting out, a score of 700 or higher may be tough as you're just establishing your credit history. In fact, according to Credit Karma, the average credit score for 18-24 year-olds is 630 and the average credit score for 25-30 year-olds is 628.
If you're under 21, you have to prove your income and show the ability to make monthly payments when applying for a credit card. Another alternative is to enlist a co-signer who's over 21 and can prove their ability to make payments.
