A common question I receive from Creditnet readers is how long we should wait between credit card applications. Once consumers find out that opening and using a credit card responsibly can help them build credit, many of us (rightfully so) have an urge to rush off and apply for a small handful of cards very quickly.

Frankly, this is a bad idea. Opening too many cards at once can damage your credit profile and reputation in a couple of different ways. 

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of tips to help Creditnet readers protect themselves against identity theft. Check out last week's article on items you should remove from your wallet to prevent ID theft.

Let's be honest here: passwords are hard to remember. Seemingly everything I do online now requires a password, even the low-risk profiles I can't imagine anyone wanting to get a hold of. 

Is any event in life more bittersweet than graduating from college? It's a huge, coming-of-age moment that solidifies four (plus) years of studying, partying and ultimately (and hopefully) finding ourselves, not to mention thousands of dollars in student loans. It's also a right-of-passage into the real world for many of us, which essentially makes it a huge wake-up-call when it comes to financial independence.

If there's one thing I've learned in my time as the Editor of Creditnet, it's that your credit score wasn't built in a day, nor will it jump 100 points in the matter of moments. Even if you start making all the right moves, it still takes time for those credit-related improvements to take effect on your credit score.