It takes a while to build a great credit score, but it's not as difficult as you might think it would be.

To build a credit score, start with a secured credit card or become an authorized user on a trusted account. Pay bills on time, keep credit utilization below 30%, and consider a credit-builder loan.

So I headed to the store and was turned down flat because I didn’t have a credit score. A few months later I had a cellphone , and today I have excellent credit scores. In order to have a credit ...