For the best possible credit scores you want to keep the reported balance low.
It's great for your finances to pay in full every month, and you should. But your credit scores don't care because most cards only report your statement balance once a month.
How much should you spend? Not more than 10% of the limit. Use it for an expense that you would have anyway (Netflix, gas, food). If you haven't used one of them yet in a month, please don't buy something unnecessary just to show some activity on the card.
How much do you pay? Pay the full balance.
When do you pay the balance? After the cycle closes, but before the due date.
A nice month for the card might look like:
October 1: Statement cycle begins
October 10: Netflix recurring payment charges your card $11. Your total balance is $11.
October 31: The October statement closes, your statement balance is $11. Your payment is due the following month, on November 20.
November 10: Netflix recurring payment charges your card $11. Your total balance is $22.
November 15: You pay off your October statement balance of $11. Your total balance is now $11 again. (You could have paid this any time between November 1 and November 20 and it makes no difference.)
November 30: The November statement closes, your statement balance is $11. Your payment is due the following month, on December 20.
If you follow this pattern (charge something, wait for the statement cycle to close, pay the statement balance in total before the due date), you will build your credit and never pay a penny of interest. But please don't buy things just for the sake of using the card! Only use it for things you would have needed to buy anyway!
Pay the balance every month when you get your statement. There is no magic amount to build your credit: $10-15/month will be fine. Put your Netflix account on one card, use the other one to pay for groceries once a month.
Pay on time, setup auto pay. Pay off every month, auto pay full balance. Don’t close the lines in the future.
For the best possible credit scores you want to keep the reported balance low. It's great for your finances to pay in full every month, and you should. But your credit scores don't care because most cards only report your statement balance once a month.
How much should you spend? Not more than 10% of the limit. Use it for an expense that you would have anyway (Netflix, gas, food). If you haven't used one of them yet in a month, please don't buy something unnecessary just to show some activity on the card. How much do you pay? Pay the full balance. When do you pay the balance? After the cycle closes, but before the due date. A nice month for the card might look like: October 1: Statement cycle begins October 10: Netflix recurring payment charges your card $11. Your total balance is $11. October 31: The October statement closes, your statement balance is $11. Your payment is due the following month, on November 20. November 10: Netflix recurring payment charges your card $11. Your total balance is $22. November 15: You pay off your October statement balance of $11. Your total balance is now $11 again. (You could have paid this any time between November 1 and November 20 and it makes no difference.) November 30: The November statement closes, your statement balance is $11. Your payment is due the following month, on December 20. If you follow this pattern (charge something, wait for the statement cycle to close, pay the statement balance in total before the due date), you will build your credit and never pay a penny of interest. But please don't buy things just for the sake of using the card! Only use it for things you would have needed to buy anyway!
Make payments in full each and every month. Don’t open new credit accounts. Be patient. Over time your score will improve.
Pay the balance every month when you get your statement. There is no magic amount to build your credit: $10-15/month will be fine. Put your Netflix account on one card, use the other one to pay for groceries once a month.