I don’t know if it works differently in the US but the best way to build your credit score is to not take on debt.

The best way to build a score is to take out small amounts of debt and repay them in a timely fashion. But you're still better off with a car note than without. You're still better off with a credit card than without. You want an optimal number of data points for the system to track. And you want a history clear of missed payments.

Without that data history, it becomes very difficult to secure apartment space or access anything other than student credit. And, because you absolutely need a car and an apartment if you want to exist in America in anything close to comfort, that means you functionally need a credit score.