iQuanti: If you're a young adult, you might be asking: when can I get a credit card?

Technically, anyone at an age of 18 or older can apply for a credit card. However, without the proper guidance, they'll risk mistakes that could scar their credit history for years to come.

To avoid any unnecessary risks, take a look at five of the most common credit card mistakes that students should strive to avoid.  

1. Not Taking a New Credit Card Seriously

A new cardholder should always look at their credit card as a huge opportunity to potentially build their credit score. Also known as your FICO Score, your credit score is a number between 300 and 850 that can determine your creditworthiness. 

This number might not just determine if you can apply for future credit cards, but it may also affect whether you'll qualify for:

• Apartment/House rentals
• Mortgages
• Auto loans
• Other types of loans
• Some insurance products

As you can see, what you do with your credit card can impact your ability to make larger financial steps in your future. That's why you should see a new credit card as a serious chance to prove you can use credit responsibly.

2. Not Making Credit Card Payments on Time

Neglecting or even forgetting to make credit card payments is one of the worst possible moves you can make for your credit score. A lender will most often want to know whether you'll pay them back in full and on time. That's why approximately 35% of your total FICO score can come from making timely payments.

To avoid missing payments, set up your account for autopay. By activating this one account feature, you'll most likely never miss a payment, and your credit score might not have to make an unnecessary decline.

3. Carrying a Card Balance

Credit cards can make it convenient to make purchases you can't afford outright and then pay them off later. But new cardholders often don't understand that after the first billing cycle, any outstanding balance can be charged a daily interest rate. That interest can build not just on the principal, but also on any interest that's been charged so far.

To possibly avoid interest charges altogether, always pay your statement in full. There's even a setting for this in autopay.

The other trick is to always spend less than you can afford. That way you'll have some assurances that you can always pay off the full amount.

4. Charging Too Much to Your Credit Card

Even if you can afford to spend as much as your credit card will allow, doing so may negatively impact your creditworthiness. Around 30% of your FICO Score can be determined by "your credit utilization ratio." This is the amount of your balance divided by your credit limit, and it gives a picture of how much available credit you use at any given time.

You should try to avoid spending more than 30% of your credit limit. For example, if your credit limit is $5,000, then try and aim to keep your balance below $1,500. 

5. Applying for Too Many Cards at Once

Having more than one credit card can sound like a good idea. Still, applying for too many cards in too short of a time span can negatively impact your FICO Score. Instead, wait about 12 months before applying for any new cards.