How to start with a good credit history?

I currently attend college and live with my parents. My parents started to care about their credit score too late. I need credit cards to buy clothes and college materials. I don't have credit at all since I just turned 18. My parents credit limit is too low and they can barely pay off their own credit debt. HOW CAN I ACQUIRE A CREDIT CARD WITH A GOOD INTEREST RATE AND HIGH CREDIT LIMIT WITHOUT HAVING TO USE MY PARENTS CREDIT. I have tried to acquire a credit card with their social security number but they allow low credit limit. How do I start a credit history without having to use anyone else or their credit.( I currently started working)

Public Comments

1. you won't without help. everybody starts somewhere. it's usually near the bottom. so get a charge card, gas or dept., and make small charges you pay over time PROMPTLY. time is the key.
2. If you "NEED" credit cards to get things, then you don't have the cash for them. If that's the case you do NOT want credit cards. What you want is a student loan. Go to fafsa.gov on the web and apply for loans. Even bank loans have lower rates than credit cards if you're looking to borrow money. Paying for things with money you don't own on credit cards harms your credit.
3. If you have a job and can open a student checking account some banks will offer a credit card with a low spending limit for you to start out with. If you can open an account with a low limit use it to charge small things and BE SURE YOU PAY IT ON TIME. Try to always have a low or zero balance after each payment. I suggest buying things you would be buying anyway (gas, food, etc.) and keeping the money you would spend on those things in the checking account. Then when the credit card statement comes in pay it off before the due date. Good Luck... it is important to begin this process while you are still young ... before you really need it for something important.
4. They have credit cards that even if you have bad credit you can still get a credit card through company's that offer that but it will be a lower credit to open until you get established. Your parents credit has nothing to do with yours. Your parents can always turn it around but they have to make that step.
5. Try applying with American Express. Your first card will require you to pay the balance at the end of each month. I know this is not what you want, but listen to me for a minute.....Once you have done this for around six months, they will offer you a revolving credit line, that you don't have to pay the total each month...The limit will start out low, say around $250, but every six months they will increase it if you make your payments on time, bounce no checks sent to them and pay more than minimum required payment.....This is how you begin, after a year with them, apply for a second Major credit card, not a store card....Do not be hasty, just because a company sends you a preapproval card, look at the interest rate, (don't pay anything more the 12%. Don't accept any card that requires you to pay a yearly fee, and watch out for hidden costs, like for late payment you get charged so much and then your interest rate goes sky high.....Stay away from these.......No one needs more than two major credit cards.......There is such a thing as too much credit and that can look really bad as well.......Often times we think we need things that we really don't... Exam your motives before you shop......Material things will not make you happy, but some are necessary.......
6. Hi Napster, I was in your same situation a few years back and now I'm looking pretty good on the credit side! Here is what you do go to your local bank and open up a secured line of credit. You deposit $500 into a savings account then you borrow against it therefore it is secured. You will make monthly installment payments on your own money ask your bank for details. After about six months of that go to a department store that isn't real big and ask for a line of credit. Automotive repair places like Tires Plus will give you a line of credit also. Blair.com is a clothing store that will also give you credit. Make sure you pay all of your bills on time and don't get sucked into these credit card scams that they have for people with no credit. High Interest and they are not there to help.