Millennial money: What's a good credit score?

• Keep old credit cards open unless you%27re paying a fee
• Don%27t intentionally leave a balance on your accounts
• Build credit by becoming authorized user on another card

For six weeks starting Feb. 12, USA TODAY is partnering with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to bring financial advice to Millennials through weekly Twitter chats. The first chat on Feb. 12 focused on the basics of credit. Jana Castanon, a certified financial counselor with counseling service Apprisen, answered participant questions. USA TODAY reporter Hadley Malcolm moderated the discussion. Following is a summary of the questions and answers:

Q: What's considered a good credit score vs. a poor credit score?

A: Creditors have differences between what is good and bad, but a good score is usually above 730, bad below 650.

Q: What's the best way to build quick credit?

A: You can become an authorized user on a card or get a small loan at a credit union.

Q:If I have good credit but not enough income, should that be a concern for future loans?

A: Having a credit card is important, but a lender is not going to lend you money unless you have the ability to repay.

Q: Are there any situations where intentionally leaving a balance on a loan or credit account can help your credit?

A: Not really, unless you don't make on-time payments. Best thing to do is to charge on it and pay it off to create payment history.

Q: Should I keep my oldest credit card open, even if I don't use it anymore?

A: I would keep it open unless you are paying an annual fee. It helps with the credit utilization.

Q: What does credit utilization mean, and why does that matter?

A: Credit utilization is the amount of credit you have vs. the amount you use. Closing (a card) lowers your credit utilization, which could lower your score.

Q: What would you consider too many credit cards?

A: You have too many if you are using them all and they are maxed out.

Q: Will pulling my own credit report affect my credit score?

A: No, it won't. Go to annualcreditreport.com to receive your free one.

Q: Are department store credit cards good or bad for credit? Are they worth keeping, or should you pay them off and cancel them?

A: As long as you keep your balances low, don't have too many, and pay them on time they're not "bad."

Q: How can someone quickly add a few points to their credit score?

A: There is no quick fix. Just keep paying your bills on time and don't overextend yourself. Your score will go up.

Join the next chat Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. ET by following and using the hashtag #millennialmoney on Twitter. We'll be talking about becoming a first-time homeowner.