Easy Ways to Build Credit While Renting

Renting can be a great option for a lot of families as they build up savings and figure out where to eventually settle in and purchase a first home. However, in the past, renting didn’t help you build your credit and could make it harder to show your consistent, on-time payments and ability to qualify for that first home purchase.

Today, we’re going to share 3 easy ways you can build credit while renting, without getting into debt to do it!

This post is sponsored by Pinch App. All opinions are my own. 

1. Monitor Your Credit Reports – Keeping on top of your credit report is an essential first step to understanding what problems lenders may see from your report and what you can change or adjust to help your score start improving each month. You can get a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies – Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Each report will be slightly different, as not all creditors report to all 3 of the reporting agencies, so do keep that in mind. Space out your free reports to get one free report every 4 months and you’ll have a good idea of how your score is progressing throughout the year and catch any unexpected issues or problems early on.

If you find any inaccurate information, make sure to correct and fix those issues right away. You may catch a creditor you didn’t even know was on your report, and can be proactive to get to the root of the problem and start paying payments towards any outstanding balances to turn around that negative report that will affect your score.

Keep in mind that a lack of any credit utilization will also impact your score, so if your credit report is looking pretty empty, you may want to think about ways you can use payments like rent or store purchase to your advantage.

2. Get a Credit Card, Paid Off Monthly – Your credit score is a reflection of your ability to borrow, and effectively pay off and manage, your debt. A good first way to start building your credit score is to open a credit card at a gas station or favorite store. Use the card only for your normal, every day purchase you would have purchased regardless of having a credit card. Pay off the card in full each month to avoid any interest payment or debt accrual.

Keep in mind that if you have a tough time sticking to a budget and limiting your purchases, you can get a credit card, and stash it away and not use it at all. The open credit card will still slowly help your credit score simply from having an open line of credit that remains in good standing.

3. Use Your Rental Payments to Build Credit – Those monthly, on-time, recurring payments can work towards your benefit. By using a monthly rent payment tool that will both simplify paying your rent and help your credit you can build your history that will show your accountability to future lenders.

Pinch is transforming the way we think about renting with their app that’s so easy to use. You’ll create an account through the Pinch App, available in the Apple App Store. Then, securely connect your bank account and fill in the information for your landlord for payments to be made. You’ll select the date for Pinch to mail your rent check and they’ll alert you once the check has been cashed, giving you a record as well of your cleared payments. Pinch then reports your rent payments to the credit bureaus helping to build your credit score each month.

Pinch is a free app and service. It gives you one less thing to worry about each month, so you can focus on those things that matter most. By working towards improving your credit score you’ll be able to get lower interest financing for your future home, car purchase, insurance, cell phone line limits, and other things that rely on your credit reports to make decisions.

Head over to www.pinchrent.com for more information or search for the Pinch app in the Apple App Store to see if Pinch can help you build your credit score while renting and simplify your bill payments while building your credit!