In 1985, credit cards relied on manual imprinting machines, called “knuckle-busters,” to press card details onto paper receipts for processing. Electronic POS terminals with magnetic stripe readers were starting to emerge, allowing faster and more accurate transactions. However, many merchants still used the manual method as electronic systems slowly gained popularity. This period marked the transition toward modern, secure payment systems. | History In Pictures

Important Context: Credit scores are based on 3 main things: 1. Payment History (how consistently you pay your bills) 2. Utilization (what percentage of your credit you’re using) 3. Credit History (how long your account has been open) Payment history and utilization are easy to improve... -> Pay your credit card in full every month -> Keep your credit usage under 30% at all times But credit history takes... history. Unless you add your kid as an authorized user 😉 That allows them to “piggyback”