I’m 18. Should I worry about my credit yet?

If you jump on the credit-building train at 18, you’ll have an easier time renting an apartment, getting a car loan and setting up your own cellphone plan when you graduate.

But credit also makes it disturbingly easy to cover the eight pizzas your roommates decide to order.

While independence is your reward for having good credit, not everyone is ready to build it responsibly in college. Know yourself, and choose a method that won’t torpedo your goal as soon as you start.

Your credit score shows lenders, landlords and financial institutions how likely you are to repay a debt or follow through on your commitments. After you start using credit, you’ll re- ceive a score on an 850-point scale. In general, a good score is 690 or above, but know that it will take time to get there.

Having good or excellent credit means:

• Lower interest rates on credit cards, car loans, mortgages and private student loans

• Eligibility for premium credit cards

• More easily qualifying to rent an apartment

• Access to utilities without a deposit

• Cheaper car insurance in most states The factors that most influence your score are whether you’ve paid bills on time, how much credit you’re using and how long your credit history is. When you’re in the process of building credit, avoiding negative marks — like late payments — is your first priority. — Nerdwallet