PROVE THAT YOU ARE CREDITWORTHY BY TAKING OUT A CARD

Sensible card use can boost your personal credit rating. Liesa Stecher, who works for London-based financial services firm Addition, took out a credit card to improve her score ahead of applying for a mortgage.

“I never max out my card but use a small percentage of the credit available, to show I’m a responsible borrower,” she says.

Liesa, 24, pays back her cards in full every month, boosting her standing.