How To Build Good Credit With Budget-Friendly Choices

In the fifth episode of The College Student's Guide To Money, Chelsea covers all the basics of building credit: why credit matters, what your credit score actually is, and how to use credit responsibly and maintain a budget-friendly lifestyle.
What is credit: www.equifax.com/personal/educ...
Spending on convenience: www.finder.com/cost-of-conven...
How to find a budget-friendly routine: www.psychologytoday.com/us/bl...
Changing your habits: learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-a...
SMART goals: geekgirlstrong.com/about-robyn, www.ucop.edu/local-human-reso...
Home cooking resources: thefinancialdiet.com/3-cheap-...
www.moneycrashers.com/cooking...
thefinancialdiet.com/17-delic...
Cost per use: www.forbes.com/sites/nancyand...
Sustainable shopping: www.mckinsey.com/business-fun...
Building a wardrobe: thefinancialdiet.com/how-to-b...
Splitting expenses with roommates: www.forbes.com/sites/trulia/2...
www.collegexpress.com/article...
The Financial Diet site:
www.thefinancialdiet.com
Facebook: / thefinancialdiet
Twitter: / tfdiet
Instagram: thefinancia...

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Before you go and criticize the younger generation, just remember who raised them.” - Unknown

[@wisemoneywomen]

The biggest impact to my credit was understanding how it worked and getting rid of the fear around it. Once I understood what they were looking at, and what they 'thought' was going on in my life, then it was easy to raise my credit score from the low 500s to 836

[@victorysampson]

I love your confidence when you speak. You said “a quick bite to out eat” and continued with 0 hesitation. We HAVE to stan honestly. 0:37

[@davidliang913]

Setting up structure for yourself makes decision making easier, and thus helps you make better financial decisions!

[@anaalves3658]

My husband and I used to buy everything on our credit card because we would earn points that we could use for a multitude of things that where useful to us, from flights, car rental, holiday packages, gift cards etc. But it was paid in full EVERY MONTH without fail. We moved countries last year and credit cards here just don't have many benefits, so we rarely use the credit card that we have, we use our debit card instead. You need to know how to work the credit card to the best of its potential.😉

[@julecaesara482]

Very interesting take on the kitchen supplies and cooking skills. However, I find the "starter kit" you referenced a little too much for the kind of beginner I was 3 years ago. This is how I started: (adaptable for vegans) Tools: well you'll need at the very least one cooktop wooden spoon large sharp knife little knife soup ladle spatula large wooden (DO NOT use plastic, it gets in your food, I bought very cheap bamboo at the beginning) cutting board 1 large pan 1 large pot 1 large bowl and if your place has an oven: (I e. g. never had a microwave) 1 baking dish 1 cake tin also, a fridge would be very important and a freezer unit super handy but not vital food to have stacked at home: (I grew up in Germany and I started cooking when I lived in France and my pantry is accordingly stacked. If you don't have potatoes almost every day then feel free to use corn for example, which I barely have once a month) rice potatoes noodles (whatever you like, from spaghetti to ramen noodles, depends on what foods you are more likely to cook, and it'll likely be dishes that you are familiar with) couscous (I guess my point here is to have 4 carbs you can have on the side. Couscous was just really cheap in France, now that I am back in Germany, quinoa would be much cheaper but I don't like it that much) flour whole oats some kind of nuts or a mix of nuts sugar baking powder eggs (flax seeds for vegans or chia, but that is waaayyy more expensive over here) milk (if vegan, get a blender and learn how to make oat milk, it's super easy. Or you know, just get it from the store, but if you do make sure to buy calcium and B12 enriched) some kind of hard cheese (nutritional yeast for vegans) kidneys chickpeas thuna (tofu for vegans) white beans (optional. but highly recommended because they are SO cheap) salt pep oregano (important for italian flavour) thyme, rosemary (French and Italian flavours) paprika powder (for spicing chicken/tofu) smoked paprika (optional, recommended especially for vegans to give a smokey flavour to something) curry powder (edit 2: I just remembered that curry powder wasn't a thing in where I lived in France, but they had curry paste, which I find is the slightly advanced version) parsley basil olive oil neutral plant oil like sunflower butter or margerine veggie stock powder coconut milk your favourite nut butter (make sure it's at least 95% nuts) yoghurt (optional but handy for sauces, dressings and desserts) if you have a freezer unit I highly recommend frozen peas frozen spinach frozen berries these are oh so cheap and oh so handy that's pretty much it. edit: I cannot believe I forgot onions and garlic, duh!

[@alinepnc3211]

I couldn't agree more with your comment ! Definitely helpful.

[@julecaesara482]

@@alinepnc3211 glad it is helpful

[@shaquicedacosta]

Nice list! If you’re going to an American uni then you’ll probably have to share a full kitchen with 10+ people. I’d recommend splitting the cost of higher priced items. I.e., my dorm-mate and I went 50/50 for a CorningWare set cause we both baked a lot and they got from fridge to oven.

[@julecaesara482]

@@shaquicedacosta very good idea! I live with only 1 flatmate and we take turns in buying the things we have on our "permanent pantry list"

[@artemisofthemoonandhunt1486]

If you want a stone cutting board/pastry board, you can sometimes get them very cheaply from places that make custom stone countertops. They're the scraps either from cutting out the sinks or from calibrating the cutters.

[@rkgk1517]

Having to work from home and do the stay-at-home routine for months on end due to COVID-19 has TRULY shown me how out of control my spending was.

[@lynrieagain]

Many of us got that same demo and convenience costs a lot!

[@SrirachiKat]

Same, I'd eat out a lot with friends who weren't really my friends and would tell me to buy this and that even if I didn't really like it:/

[@pri.sci.lla.]

It’s rewarding for me to be debt free. Little sacrifices now will pay dividends in the future.

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

Just something to consider before you post videos: when it says "captions unavailable" it makes me feel very sad. I'm hard of hearing. I depend on those to understand what you're saying sometimes. I'm likely not the only one. Maybe you don't want to wait for KZbin to deal with it. There are services that can provide you captions ahead of time. Please make sure your content remains inclusive. I hate having to wait a long time to watch a video or replay it half a dozen times because I am struggling with hearing or understanding. Thanks.

[@candyrose3651]

There are captions now.

[@InvestWithQueenie]

Thanks for sharing your tips Chelsea! I love your tips about budget-friendly hacks and buying your clothes on sale when they are out of season. You can get some great deals on clothes buying it out of season. Great tips and love your videos 😊

[@neb-03]

I didn't grow up cooking and in college I found myself too swamped with work to start learning. Instead of "cooking", I mostly stuck to things I could "assemble", or recipes that could just use one pot/pan, like sandwiches, salads, burritos, quesadillas, and rice or pasta with veggies and a store bought sauce. Also, as a student from a country where freezing food and using an oven isn't commonplace, meal prepping wasn't something on my mind. Not to mention the lack of counter space and kitchen availability in a shared apartment.

[@akankshas6385]

I get so excited every time tfd posts a new video!!

[@Talkinglife]

If you have a long history of effectively managing credit and making payments on time, you're likely to have a good credit score and will be more likely to be awarded the credit card or loan with favorable terms and rates. If you've never used credit or have negative information on your credit report, like missed payments, you may be less likely to secure a loan or credit card. If you do get the loan or credit card, you may get less favorable rates.

I just finished my first year of university, and this series is already helping me so much!!

[@craziestcatlady_]

Has TFD ever done a video on travel credit cards-ones you would recommend, tips for making the most out of them, etc.? If not I think this would be a worthwhile topic!

[@juliejohlie8101]

Great info for the post grad as well! Thank youuuu!

[@FrugalRules]

Building credit is important, but you have to make sure you make the right financial choices to do it. I like that you shared this.

[@liafrances4924]

i am loving this series!!

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Every time you borrow money, you're robbing your future self.” --Nathan W. Morris

[@khandarwilliam5439]

I learn this from Doraemon

[@oceanwonders]

Only if you can't pay it off on time (and it's a credit card, with a grace period). If you CAN pay it off on time, it was a free loan. The world runs on credit. Learning to use it to your advantage, rather than letting it burn you through not knowing better, gets you further.

[@victoriamather2267]

This has nothing to do with TFD but Chelsea, could we have an apartment tour please?

[@joymae]

Chelsea this is a great video, the behavior we follow in college will build our future financial well being! Luckily I survived off dorm food, ramen, and being super frugal!

[@Margles349]

I am 28 and *just* starting to build credit now. I am fortunate that i've been able to avoid loans so far- I am not complaining about that privilege. But, until now, I didn't have a credit card either. And that is absolutely causing some problems. When I set up my health insurance, I had trouble, because they looked for my credit score and it *didn't exist* .

[@ashrivenai8533]

On the upside, it will probably shoot up very quickly going from nothing to having a card. My student loans gave me something on my report fresh out of school, but my first credit card jumped me up 100ish points within a year.

[@rubyaraiza8203]

Watching TFT is so refreshing while learning financially.

[@lolipena8051]

Agree about credit. We make sure to pay our miles card each month and only buy/charge for what we have budgeted.

[@lenapetrova]

That's the best route to take when managing finances! 👏

[@IdesireCake]

Love the addition of the plant in the left corner, still think the background would look so much better if the lamp wasn’t visible.

[@trinilifewithvedesh]

Very informative video.

[@arianagrace8244]

OPINION ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME? Love this channel!

[@jenishna]

Searching for that superhuman who generally writes down the list of the video.

[@Deafkid97]

One thing that isn’t mentioned on here because most people have mastered this by adulthood but I am in the process of getting my drivers license at 27. Currently I spend a large majority of my paycheck on rideshares because the transit options in my town are very poor where I have to walk a mile to the bus stop (I am disabled). I know car insurance is expensive but learning to drive will save me a lot of money in the long run because I will be putting gas in my car less frequently than using a ride share.

[@erinkelley4104]

I have a friend who apparently has an AMAZING credit score because she somehow got added to one of her (financially responsible) parents credit cards when she was like seven. So at 19 she has more than 10 years of good credit history. It's insane.

[@modernadulting6857]

One way is to pay your bills on time When lenders review your credit report and request a credit score for you, they're very interested in how reliably you pay your bills. That's because past payment performance is usually considered a good predictor of future performance.

[@xDucksSortOfFlyx]

Notification squad!!

[@Petdaisy101]

can you do a video on collection debt?

[@GeeklingNo1]

What about pre paid credit cards? Would they also work towards your credit score?

[@sarah-mj9tw]

can I just say too, if you need a path into a new, potentially money-saving hobby, try growing your own hearbs, fruit, veggies etc. Herbs are so easy with little space and those like 50c seed packets, you can just have some growing on your windowsill and when theyre done, use them fresh or dry them for amazing additions to your meals

[@roseemich]

teach me more queen ✍🏼

[@ayuminakahara4805]

I clicked so fast

[@livtupi]

Wow omg i never realised credit score is different in the us?!?!?!?! In Brasil it's 0 to 100 but no one has 0... i dont think

[@RebBar]

It's even different in Canada too as ours goes up to 900 :)

[@Alina_Schmidt]

A ride share isn‘t a „conveniance purchase“ as in overpriced unless you do that instead of biking or walking. Even public transport is ride sharing.

[@guerillahag]

My once graduated about to go to business school ass is taking notes coz im such a noob smh

[@DogmaGirlAD]

Cost/use is one of the biggest reasons that expensive (even good quality baby clothing is ridiculous - they grow out of it so fast)

[@KimberlyGraceArcher]

How is a pet sitter a "convenience"? If you're not home for 9 hours because you're working then your dog needs to go to the bathroom and needs exercise. What's the non-convenient option?

[@Arcticstar0]

When I have to leave my dog for extended hours, I leave indoor pee pads that my dog is familiar with for him to do his business. There are more permanent options as well if it’s a regular part of your schedule. You just need to train your pet that it is okay to do their business on that surface. If you’re concerned about your pets causing damage, to themselves or your property, I guess that might call for a pet sitter. If you are concerned about socialisation or exercise for your pet, maybe consider a dog walker instead as that should cover less hours, unless your pet sitter is only there for a short time, say only to change the water, give food, and let the dog do it’s business outside.

[@KimberlyGraceArcher]

@@Arcticstar0 I'm actually a professional dog trainer so I am aware that technically this is an option, however it's not a great long term solution. Dogs really need some type of structured mental and physical stimulation during the day. I'm not concerned about them damaging the house or anything, I'm concerned about their welfare. Just as you wouldn't leave a toddler in a crib all day, you shouldn't just leave a dog alone all day. For just a day or something while you're on a day trip isn't a big deal, but to do it every day is awful for them and can really create long term stress issues and potentially behavioral problems such as anxiety. Also, big dogs can't really use pee pads. The amount that they pee would not only completely cover one pad but also probably splash onto your floor while they pee. Furthermore, it can be very difficult to train a dog that's already potty trained to use a pee pad and as many dogs weren't adopted as a puppy I find most people don't have success with this.

[@KimberlyGraceArcher]

Also, maybe it's different in her area but we would call a dog walker a pet sitter and I believe this is what she's referring to.

[@lettea.437]

I'm surprised theres no comments re intuit.

[@rfishe]

Watch my last video for more tips on how to save money as a college student!