Ask Brianna: Should I avoid credit cards?

[...] my advice mirrors that of Rod Griffin, director of public education at credit bureau Experian: Don't be afraid of credit cards.

A tip-top credit score will make you feel like a bouncer has lifted a velvet rope and let you into an exclusive club whenever you apply for new lines of credit.

The Credit Card Act of 2009 made it hard for anyone under age 21 to get a credit card without proof of substantial income, in part to protect them from shady marketing practices that were once rampant on college campuses.

Fast-forward to 2015, when a report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that consumers ages 18 to 20 had, on average, about half the number of credit cards that those ages 21 to 34 did.

If you can't qualify for a card on your own, you can give your credit score a lift with a secured credit card, which requires a security deposit, or by becoming an authorized user of a partner's or parent's credit card.

Another, newer option is a credit builder loan, which places the money you borrow in a savings account or certificate of deposit.

(A late payment will hit your credit report once it's 30 days past due.) Resisting the temptation to overspend and having the good judgment to pay off your balance indicates to lenders you're likely to repay new types of credit you take on.

The best way to use your credit cards to build strong credit is to make purchases you know you can pay back right away.