Best Of

What @Thrax has given you is spot on. However, I'll throw in a suggestion or two. Start with a gas card from a major supplier like Shell, BP, etc. These cards are easy to get and are a great way to build your credit history. Never mind about your credit line (what the ceiling or cap is on your credit card), just pay it in full on time every month. It doesn't matter if you don't have a car; buy your mom's gas once in a while. Use your card in your name and pay it off each month. You'll be surprised how quickly you'll be reported as a reliable credit risk just by using such a gas card. You can also get a major merchandise card say from Kohl's or Bergners, even Walmart. Buy small stuff and pay off the bill the moment it comes due. Never roll over a credit card balance and never, ever take out a cash advance on a credit card. Cash advances are rigged by the creditor so as to charge you interest from the very moment you take out the advance. Worse yet, even if you try to pay in full a cash advance amount when the bill comes due, most company's will stick you for "odd days' interest" meaning they will charge you interest for the days between when they sent you the bill and the day they received your payment in the mail. This is a sucker play and nearly all creditors do this on cash advances. Lastly, if you have a place of your own and have the utilities in YOUR name, it will go a long way in building your credit rating if you do and pay the balance in full every month. I did this with my wife. Most wives (sorry ladies) don't have decent credit because nearly everything is in their husband's name so even though she pays the bills, he gets the credit rating not her. When my wife and I moved, I had her put EVERYTHING in her name instead of mine: phone, cable TV, water, sewer, electricity, gas etc. That was 3 years ago and her credit score is stellar, higher than mine, 849 vs. 790 for me. Creditors are continually sending her offers in the mail just to get her business. IOW, she is in HIGH demand. Oh, one more thing, if you are paying for car on time in your name and never have a late or missing payment, that goes a long way in building the credit you seek. Just remember: no matter what it is, always pay your bill in full every month. In credit card company circles, you'll be considered 'Charlie Potatoes' in no time and they will be pursuing you rather than the other way around.

The best way to get credit is to prove you don't need it.