3 Smart Ways to Build Credit (Without Getting Into Trouble)

Inspired by a great question from Robyn—thank you for sparking this conversation!

By Emily Miszk, Mortgage Broker, BRX Mortgage

This week on IG I got a DM from a past client and friend - she asked me a question because her little one is not so little and getting into the real life of building and establishing credit. Her Question? What advice would you give to a new 18 year old on how to get keep and build meaningful credit?

One of the most common questions I get from clients—especially first-time buyers—is:"What’s the best way to build credit without risking debt?" So let's break it down. This is exactly what I would tell my son and daughter if they were nearing their 18th birthday today.

Great credit is essential when applying for a mortgage, and how you manage your credit cards plays a huge role. Inspired by Robyn's thoughtful question, here are three simple and effective tactics to build (or rebuild) your credit wisely—without overspending or getting overwhelmed.

1. Use It Like a Debit Card—Only Spend What You Can Pay Off Monthly

Why it matters: Your credit score improves when you show responsible usage.Tactic:

• Only use your credit card for regular, budgeted expenses like gas, groceries, or bills you’d be paying anyway.

• Set a monthly calendar reminder to pay off your full balance before the due date—this keeps you interest-free and builds strong repayment habits.

📌 Pro tip: If you're relying on auto-pay or transfers, set up overdraft protection so you don’t accidentally dip below zero and miss a payment while waiting for your paycheque to hit your account.

2. Keep Your Credit Utilization Low (Ideally Under 30%)

Why it matters: Lenders view high credit usage as risky—even if you always pay it off.Tactic:

• If your credit limit is $1,000, try to keep your monthly spending under $300.

• Set usage alerts in your banking app so you never go over that threshold without realizing.

Keeping your utilization low shows you're not dependent on credit and boosts your score over time.

3. Build Payment History—Even Small Charges Count

Why it matters: Your payment history makes up the largest portion of your credit score.Tactic:

• Put one small recurring charge—like your Netflix subscription or cell phone bill—on your credit card and set it to automatically pay off each month.

• I personally have my credit card balance set to auto-pay from my chequing account in full each month.

📌 Again, don’t forget to consider overdraft protection if you're using auto-pay. You want to avoid any chance of a missed payment between pay periods.

Your Questions Matter

If you read this blog or follow along on Instagram, I’d love to hear your questions—because they help shape the content I share here. Thank you again to Robyn for the inspiration behind this post. The more we talk about credit and financial confidence, the better prepared we all are when it comes time to buy a home.

Have questions about your credit and mortgage readiness? Let’s chat.

Visit www.emilycallme.comEmily Miszk Mortgage BrokerBRX MortgageFSRA #13463

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