<human>: Can you condense the text into a few key points?

Throwaway to avoid sharing personal-ish details on main account.  
  
So I am 17 years old, going into senior year of high school with excellent grades etc. I have literally zero expenses because I live at home with my parents and I do not drive. I have been receiving payments from Google via YouTube Adsense since 2012, earning anywhere between $150 and $275 monthly straight into a savings account. I do not touch this money, spending only what I receive from gifts or whatever. Even then I am cheap af and only spend cash on an occasional video game or restaurant/movie with friends.  
  
However sometimes I want to buy a game or some school supplies online and have to pay with a parent's credit card (with permission of course). I would love to have a little more independence in this field and therefore my parents have been speaking about opening a credit card for me, also to build credit etc. I have read most of the introductory material provided on this subreddit and understand what credit cards are, the basics, and the number one rule about payments.  
  
What I could not find however were answers to these questions:  
1. What is the general process for actually making a monthly payment?  
2. Is there a downside to getting a card and not using it regularly or for more than a month?  
  
I would also appreciate any general yay or nay as to whether I should even pursue a credit card at this time, as well as recommendations or advice regarding them. Thank you.
<bot>: am 17, earning some money but almost never spend it; parents recommend c.c. to build credit, yay or nay plus two numbered questions above?