safety
Getting your first credit card? Here’s how to build credit and avoid costly mistakes
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk Stacker , as published by KVIA ABC-7
· August 18, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: KVIA ABC-7 · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Stacker, as published by KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 18, 2026 Indexed here Aug 18, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
Key points To avoid debt, it's helpful to set a personal spending limit and keep balances low. Building a strong credit history is crucial when getting a first credit card.
Building a strong credit history is crucial when getting a first credit card. New cardholders should focus on making on-time payments and using the card responsibly. To avoid debt, it's helpful to set a personal spending limit and keep balances low.
Further guidance is available on choosing the right card and building smart habits. Some cards offer features like alerts and fraud protection to help monitor spending.
Additional information can be found from TD, including tips for parents and details on secured credit cards for those with little credit history.
More safety Today’s briefing Local events
Why this story is here
KVIA ABC-7 reported and published this story. The El Paso selected it, summarised the key facts above, and links to the original. We did not report this story and we added no reporting of our own to it.
About this story
As published by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso selects stories from publishers’ feeds, summarises them, and links back to the publisher that reported them. We add no reporting of our own. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact the editor .
Category: safety Published: August 18, 2026 Source: KVIA ABC-7 Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Building a strong credit history is crucial when getting a first credit card. New cardholders should focus on making on-time payments and using the card responsibly. To avoid debt, it's helpful to…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 18, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stacker at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter
