I was even thinking about making
my kids authorized users to get them a few lounge passes a year.
They are usually making
their kids authorized users and another card on their name will be issued to make purchases.
Not exact matches
These accounts are then designated for parents or other
authorized users and
kids.
There are lots of ways to get your
kids started with their first card, whether it's a secured card on their own or as an
authorized user on your card.
This should really only be an option for
kids who've already proven themselves by being
authorized users or having secured cards, says Ross.
The cons: If your
authorized user kid racks up a balance on your card that can't be paid off every month, that will increase your credit utilization ratio, which can dent your credit score.
If you want to add your husband or
kids to your credit card, you'll want to take the
authorized user fee into serious consideration.
Add your
kids as
authorized users.
Your
kids» scores will benefit as long as your issuer reports
authorized user activity to the credit bureaus every month.
If you want your
kids to have a great FICO score and you have a great FICO score in the highest range, then add them to your credit card account as an
authorized user.
For years, parents have listed their
kids as
authorized users on their own cards to help the
kids build a positive credit history.
A mistake most parents make to help their
kids build credit is they co-sign for them on new loans and new credit cards when in reality they would do you a bigger favor if they actually understood how
authorized users being added worked, as highlighted below.
Often, parents make their children
authorized users on their credit card accounts so that the
kids have a card to use in emergencies.
Creating a credit history for
kids under 10 is too early — Wait until kids hit their teens to add them as authorized users to your card... (See K
kids under 10 is too early — Wait until
kids hit their teens to add them as authorized users to your card... (See K
kids hit their teens to add them as
authorized users to your card... (See
KidsKids)
David Chung, managing director of CreditXpert, says the filter should also be helpful for consumers making the more traditional use of
authorized user accounts: Parents helping their
kids build credit on their own.
How to help
kids build credit before age 18 — Adding a child as an
authorized user to a parent's card is easy to do... (See Build)
Video: 3 ways to help your
kids build credit — Add a child as an authorized user, establish a checking account, and help them learn about money... (See Kids and cre
kids build credit — Add a child as an
authorized user, establish a checking account, and help them learn about money... (See
Kids and cre
Kids and credit)
If you want to add your husband or
kids to your credit card, you'll want to take the
authorized user fee into serious consideration.
Sign up your spouse or
kids to become
authorized users on your account.
If you have excellent credit yourself, you can consider adding your older teenage
kids as
authorized users on your credit cards.