Q. I'm new at having a credit card. The only one I've ever had was my Old Navy card. I got a bill and didn't make the payments often, thinking nothing of it. But my now bad credit is messing up my student loans. I'm making payments on time now, but I want my credit to be back to the way it was. Is there any way for me to improve my credit again? I know I probably can't get another credit card, which is fine by me because I don't want one, but how do I get my bad credit good again?

A. We're sorry you had to learn this the hard way, but nothing wrecks your credit faster than ignoring a few bills. Especially credit card bills. The main thing lenders look for on a credit report is a consistent record of paying your bills on time. Building that is the key to repairing your credit history.

You need a bank credit card, such as a Visa or MasterCard. This is critical to establishing good credit. If you are turned down for a regular card, you can apply for a secured credit card. With a secured credit card you will have to make an upfront deposit that will serve as your credit limit -- maybe $300 for a card with a $300 credit limit.

When you get the credit card you will have to use it. But all you have to do -- and all you should do -- is charge one item a month. Use it for something you have to buy anyway, such as a tank of gas. When the bill comes, pay the entire balance, not just the minimum amount, and make sure your payment reaches the card company before the payment deadline. Your on-time payments will be reported to the credit-reporting agencies. In addition to paying your credit card bill on time, you also must pay any other monthly bills, such as utilities and student loans by their due dates.

It will take time to rebuild your credit -- maybe 18 months or two years -- but you have to do it.

A good credit score can save you thousands of dollars over the years -- maybe tens of thousands. With a great credit score you will get the best interest rates when you buy a home or a car. When you get auto insurance your credit score will be checked to judge how responsible you are. The higher the score, the less you pay. But even more important, some potential employers will look at your credit score before deciding whether to hire you. You don't want a poor credit score to cost you a job.