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…What if you never plan on owning a home? What if you plan on renting forever? You don’t 
need to worry about maintaining strong credit and building a high credit score, right? Wrong. Even if you never plan on making the jump from renting to owning, there are still several money moves you need to make to ensure a happy financial future.
The original article has been edited here for length (…) and clarity ([ ])
1. Pay your bills on time each month
Paying a credit card bill 30 days or more past due will send your credit score tumbling by 100 points or more. You might not think that matters if you never plan on taking out a mortgage and buying a home, but it does.
Other lenders rely on your credit score to determine how likely it is that you’ll make your monthly payments. They also use that score to determine how high of an interest rate to charge you if they do approve you for a loan. This means that:
- lenders will look at your credit score when you apply for a loan to buy a car,
- they’ll look at it if you need to take out a personal loan
- and when you’re applying for credit cards, you’ll need strong credit to qualify for cards with the best rewards programs and interest rates. (See also: Pay These 6 Bills First When Money Is Tight)
2. Keep your credit card debt low
Consumers applying for mortgages know that having too much credit card debt can hurt their application but, even if you’re not planning to own a home, it makes good financial sense not to carry a balance on your cards each month.
Credit card debt comes with high interest rates. If you don’t pay off your balance at the end of each billing period,
- credit card debt can grow quickly,
- if you’re not careful, those minimum monthly payments can become a huge financial burden and
- high amounts of credit card debt can also lower your credit score.
Only charge what you can afford to pay off in full when your credit card bill comes due and, if you do have outstanding credit card debt, use whatever extra money you have each month to pay it down. (See also: The Fastest Method to Eliminate Credit Card Debt)
3. Show landlords how financially responsible you are
You might think it doesn’t matter that you missed two auto loan payments or that you skipped over a medical bill that’s now in collections but, even if you don’t need to prove to mortgage lenders that you’re a good financial risk, you will need to prove it to apartment landlords. You have to live somewhere, right?
When you apply for an apartment, the odds are high that your landlord will run a credit check to determine if you’re likely to pay your rent on time each month. You’ll have to consent to have such a check performed. If you refuse, don’t bet on getting that apartment. The credit check will show:
- negative financial moves such as late payments on recurring loans and credit cards,
- accounts that are in collections,
- car repossessions,
- recent bankruptcies and
- how much you owe on your credit cards and other loans.
You’ll need to pay your bills on time, keep debts out of collections, and keep your debt levels low if you expect to qualify for the better apartments in your city. (See also: 10 Questions Landlords Can’t Ask)
4. Build an emergency fund
Homeowners know how important an emergency fund is. They draw on these funds to cover such unexpected emergencies as a burst water heater, dying furnace, or leaky roof. By having money saved in such a fund, they can cover these home repairs without resorting to putting the costs on their credit cards.
You should also build your own emergency fund even if you never plan on owning. Even without a home, you will face big and unexpected bills.
- What if your car’s transmission goes out?
- What if you lose your job?
If you don’t have an emergency fund of cash savings, how will you pay for these charges without running up credit card debt?
Experts recommend saving six to 12 months’ worth of daily living expenses in an emergency fund. That might sound intimidating, but if you take it slowly by depositing whatever you can — even if it’s only $100 a month — you can gradually build up a significant emergency fund. (See also: 5-Minute Finance: Start an Emergency Fund)
5. Save for retirement
Retirement is closer than you think. You need to steadily save for the days when you’ll no longer be working. This is especially important if you never plan to own a home. Homeowners often receive a nice chunk of cash when they sell their homes and downsize to a smaller residence. If you plan on renting forever, you won’t have that opportunity.
Instead, you need to start saving for retirement as soon as you begin working. If your company offers a 401(k) plan, sign up. Explore other retirement options such as IRAs, too. (See also: 5 Retirement Accounts You Don’t Need a Ton of Money to Open)
Related Articles From the munKNEE Vault:
1. Should you keep renting, or should you buy a home?
Should you keep renting, or should you buy a home? It’s an age-old dilemma nearly every American adult wrestles with at some point. No one wants to throw their hard-earned cash away on rent payments they’ll never see again when they could be investing in a home that will grow in value and potentially provide a nice return one day. If that line of thinking sounds familiar, Todd Sinai, a real-estate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, would like to stop you right there.
2. How Big is the Gap Between Renting and Buying a House in Your State?
The price gap between renting and owning based on dollar amounts ranges from approximately 48% on the high end to 30% on the low end. With the data below, potential homeowners can make more informed choices on where to settle down and which states will stretch their pennies furthest.
3. The Average Home “Owner” Is Totally Out of Touch With Reality! Here’s Why
A recent Gallup survey on expected future returns of asset prices shows that most Americans still think that owning a home is the best way to generate a high return in the future. Nothing could be further from the truth! It just shows how totally out of touch with reality the average American is.