The reason why I recommend laying your credit score foundation with five cards is that you generally want more cards, as opposed to just one. I typically try to avoid cards with annual fees when building the base.

The problem

The most common problem I see is that when people are ready to buy a car or take out a mortgage, their credit file is too thin.

The solution to building a thicker credit profile is to add more no annual fee cards. Remember, you shouldn't be paying ANY interest.

The alternative solution is manual underwriting.

Benefits of having a strong base

1. More cash back/rewards on normal spend
2. "Free" travel
3. Less impact on future applications
4. Ability to close cards without the fear of your credit score dropping

How to start building a foundation

Secured credit cards

I recommend starting with a secured credit card or a student credit card to build a credit history.

Discover It secured or student cards are a good starting point because you can graduate to a Discover It with Cashback Match in the future.

Learn more about secured credit cards in this post.

After getting a secured credit card, wait 6-12 months before applying for another card. The main reason for this is so you can get cards affected by the  Chase 5/24 rule.

Cash back cards

The  Chase Freedom Flex card is a good starting point when you're ready for a starter credit card. If you get denied for the  Chase Freedom Flex, read this post on how to get approved for your first  Chase credit card.

If you want to earn unlimited cash back on everything, I recommend going for the Citi Double Cash (2% cash back; 1% at the time of purChase and 1% at the time of payment) or the  Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5x points)

Gas and Groceries

If you want to optimize for gas and groceries, the American Express Blue Cash or the American Express EveryDay card are good options.

‍