It takes time to build credit but hey you're 18 when i was your age i had no idea what credit was
My credit journey started at 22 (late huh?) and yeah it's been a great experience. It was kind of tough in the beginning because the only thing i could get without secure deposits was a Macys store card with a Credit limit of $100 and then i signed up for two secured cards. One was the Cap 1 and the other one was a Wells fargo card. I had those cards for about 18 months and then i decided to close them because they never graduated to insecured. Anyway look at my signature how much progress i've made in these 3 years. I even started to build some business credit, i was approved for a $10,500 Chase Ink last week
@Anonymous wrote:Your thinking is top notch. Spending money you don't have is the best way to ruin your credit. Secured cards are the best way, imo, to build from nothing. The au will also help, if the account is in good standing. Also, monitor the utilization on your mother's discover. The higher it is, the more it will hurt your score. Personally, I think paying in full, each month is the best way to go. Good luck on your journey.
If you don't mind, could you give me a brief explanation about what utilization is? I think I have an idea, but i'd rather someone explain it me. Sorry, i'm still learning! 
Haha.
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Your thinking is top notch. Spending money you don't have is the best way to ruin your credit. Secured cards are the best way, imo, to build from nothing. The au will also help, if the account is in good standing. Also, monitor the utilization on your mother's discover. The higher it is, the more it will hurt your score. Personally, I think paying in full, each month is the best way to go. Good luck on your journey.
If you don't mind, could you give me a brief explanation about what utilization is? I think I have an idea, but i'd rather someone explain it me. Sorry, i'm still learning!
Basically just because you get a card with a certain limit doesn't mean you should ever try maxing it out or spending near the limit of what they give you. Ideally for optimum FICO scoring, it's typically best to let one card report at less than 10% utilization and pay in full after it reports. If you have a card that has a 500 dollar limit, you should let 50 dollars or less report and PIF on that and etc.
Unless you're applying for new cards or trying to get some kind of auto loan or mortgage, I wouldn't obsess over your FICOs too much. Just make sure that you keep the accounts in good standing, don't max them out or only make minimum payments, all that sort of stuff and you should be fine.
@chalupaman wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Your thinking is top notch. Spending money you don't have is the best way to ruin your credit. Secured cards are the best way, imo, to build from nothing. The au will also help, if the account is in good standing. Also, monitor the utilization on your mother's discover. The higher it is, the more it will hurt your score. Personally, I think paying in full, each month is the best way to go. Good luck on your journey.
If you don't mind, could you give me a brief explanation about what utilization is? I think I have an idea, but i'd rather someone explain it me. Sorry, i'm still learning!
Basically just because you get a card with a certain limit doesn't mean you should ever try maxing it out or spending near the limit of what they give you. Ideally for optimum FICO scoring, it's typically best to let one card report at less than 10% utilization and pay in full after it reports. If you have a card that has a 500 dollar limit, you should let 50 dollars or less report and PIF on that and etc.
Unless you're applying for new cards or trying to get some kind of auto loan or mortgage, I wouldn't obsess over your FICOs too much. Just make sure that you keep the accounts in good standing, don't max them out or only make minimum payments, all that sort of stuff and you should be fine.
That clears it up, Thanks! I've known about this rule for a while actually, but the number people always told me was never charge more than 30%? Anyways, I only plan to use the secured card once I do get it for small purchases, and pay it off at the end of the month, maybe paying for lunch here, gas there, etc. Of course i'll now follow this 10% rule once I do get my secured card!
The amount you charge at a time doesn't really matter. I've had months where I've had to PIF 3 times before my statement cut. After you get your card check what the closing date is and for the first 2 months or so actually let it report a higher utilization 20-40% then pay it down and let less than 10% report. You want to show the CCCs that you can use your credit wisely at this point rather than obsessing with your FICO score.
These links may help on your credit journey. Welcome to the forum any questions feel free to personal message me if you don't want to post your question on the forum. The only dumb question is the question never asked.
http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/User-Guidelines-General/Common-Abbreviations/m-p/88458
Discover IT $17k / US Bank Ace (VSig) $13.5K / US Bank Cash+ (VSig) $13.5k
Pay on time and then over time increase your amount of available credit to get your utilization down i started when i was 17 im 21 now you will get there in no time good luck 
