We all know how important it is to have credit. You can’t reserve a hotel room or rent a car without a credit card. Having a line of credit in a department store is often accompanied by a standing discount when you use your card to make purchases. Getting that first credit card can be a heady experience and you will probably be very tempted to run out and start spending. What’s the harm? You don’t have to pay it back for at least a month, right?

The truth is that you start building your credit rating from the moment you get your first line of credit—whether it is a store credit card, a major credit card, or take out a loan. Making sure that your credit stays healthy is entirely up to you. Here are a few easy-to-implement steps to help you build your credit.

1. Always make your payments on time. This should go without saying, but the sad truth is this: many people forget or put off paying their bills. All it takes is one missed payment (particularly if you don’t have a lengthy credit history) to derail your credit score. The easiest way to make sure that your payments get paid on time is to pay the bill as soon as it arrives in the mail. As long as you make all of your payments on time, your score can only climb!

2. Pay more than the minimum amount. Thanks to interest, if you only pay the minimum amount due every month, you could end up repaying your debt a few times before your card is completely paid off. Your bill will have a section that tells you how much interest you are charged and any service fees that will be applied to your account. Make sure you add at least that amount to your minimum payment every month. This will keep the interest from racking up and ruining your account.

3. Don’t go card crazy. If you have too many lines of credit (even if you never use them) you could end up being labelled a credit risk when it is time to apply for a car loan or a mortgage. Your lender might wonder just why you have that much credit available to you and why you haven’t used it.

4. The idea that you must use your credit every month to increase your credit score is a myth. Yes, you can raise your score by using the card and making your payments on time, but you can also raise your credit score by not using your credit unless you have to. Using credit the way it was meant to be used (in emergencies) proves that you are financially responsible. This will be important when it comes time to make major purchases.

You have probably heard most of these tips before. This is because they are the easiest ways to build your credit! Credit isn’t “free money” it is a responsibility and it is important that you take it seriously.