• An established credit history is important because it enables you to do many things, according to Maxine Sweet of the Experian credit bureau's public education department. It lets you open credit cards, secure loans and purchase expensive things like appliances, vehicles and homes over time. Those with good credit find it easier to rent an apartment, turn on utilities and land a job. You can add credit to your file even if you've never had an account before.
  
  

Secured Credit Cards

• You can get a secured credit card, even if you have no other established credit, because you put up funds to guarantee repayment. Leslie McFadden of the Bankrate financial website explains that you open to an account and deposit a minimum of $200 to $300. The bank gives you a credit card with a spending limit equal to the deposited amount. It reports the account and usage history to the credit bureaus, which establishes a credit record. Secured cards typically charge an annual fee, as well as interest on the unpaid balance, but some pay interest on the deposited money. The bank often raises the limit or converts the account to a traditional credit card after 18 months of prompt payments.
  
  

Merchant Credit Cards

• Certain credit card issuers are more lenient than the major players like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. McFadden advises that retail stores and gasoline companies often open accounts for people with little or no established credit history. Purchases are limited to the specific store or gasoline station chain, and the credit limit is usually low. These accounts have high interest rates, but they report activity to the credit bureaus so they help people build a history to get other cards and loans.
  
  

Installment Loans

• Installment loans widen the variety of new credit beyond cards. Liz Pulliam Weston, an MSN Money columnist, recommends applying for a small loan from your current bank or credit union. Choose a repayment term of no more than 24 months. Auto loans are also a type of installment loan. You can often get one without established credit because the vehicle acts as collateral. Expect to pay a higher interest rate if you have little or no prior history.
  
  

Co-Signers

• Apply for an account with a co-signer who has a good credit history, Pulliam Weston advises. The lender will give you credit based on the other person's record, and you can use the account to build up your own history. Choose this option cautiously because the other person is equally liable if you do not make your payments. You ruin their credit as well as yours if you mismanage the account.