Best first credit cards

W. P. Carey expert gives financial advice for students seeking their first credit card.

In this article published Sept. 10, 2026, on WalletHub:

Make small purchases early on so you can build credit gradually and treat the card as a tool, not extra spending money. Pay the full balance every month if you can, since that habit alone will save a lot of stress and interest down the road. Building credit later in life just means being more intentional about it, but the fundamentals of responsible use still apply no matter what your age.

— Todd Altomare, instructor of management and entrepreneurship