Understanding your credit score is one of the first steps to getting your finances under control.

One in three adults in the United States has medical debt.

Many people either have experienced credit card debit or know someone who has.

We’re showing you three ways that you can actually build your credit score.

We’ve been talking about the importance of establishing a credit history, but equally as important is understanding how credit bureaus determine your credit score.

Credit histories are referenced all throughout our adult lives, so it’s important to start building one as soon as you can.

Purchasing things with a credit card is a great way to establish a credit history, but it is important to be strict and vigilant when paying it off.

Whether you like it or not, it is essential for U.S. adults to have a credit history.

“People don’t realize how big of a proportion of their credit score that is. Payment history and credit utilization compared to total credit available are the two biggest factors in determining your credit score. The next factors that affect your credit score are length of credit history, new credit inquiries and diversifying your credit with a mix of credit cards and loans. Too much new credit at one time can affect your credit score negatively by adding hard inquiries to your credit report. You can check your credit score through Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, and Credit.com or other sites.