> Unless you're taking out a mortgage tomorrow I don't really see why it matters.
Because it does? Apartments often do credit checks. Utilities run checks on you and require down payments for bills if your credit is too low. If you want a "nicer" credit card (Amex, for example), you have to have good credit. Starting a business and want a small business loan? They check your credit history if your business doesn't have a history. Etc..
Credit, at least in America, does matter. Can you get by without it? Of course. But having good credit is pretty easy to do and can have nice benefits.
The thing is, it's pretty much bound to be high as long as you don't do anything stupid. Good credit is nice, but it also takes zero effort for the most part.
That is true, but you also do have to take actions that generate that default good credit. In many cases no credit == bad credit. Hence the question OP asked.
Because it does? Apartments often do credit checks. Utilities run checks on you and require down payments for bills if your credit is too low. If you want a "nicer" credit card (Amex, for example), you have to have good credit. Starting a business and want a small business loan? They check your credit history if your business doesn't have a history. Etc..
Credit, at least in America, does matter. Can you get by without it? Of course. But having good credit is pretty easy to do and can have nice benefits.