Great question! It feels really chicken and egg doesn't it? Like, how can I do one if I don't have the other, except the other requires the one?! But, fear not... I did some digging and yours is a super common problem. This article's worth a read: https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/finance/how-to-build-credit/, but the key piece is this: "APPLY FOR A SECURED CREDIT CARD" Nerdwallet writes, "If you’re building your credit score from scratch, you’ll likely need to start with a secured credit card. A secured card is backed by a cash deposit you make upfront; the deposit amount is usually the same as your credit limit. You’ll use the card like any other credit card: Buy things, make a payment on or before the due date, incur interest if you don’t pay your balance in full. Your cash deposit is used as collateral if you fail to make payments. You’ll receive your deposit back when you close the account. Secured credit cards aren’t meant to be used forever. The purpose of a secured card is to build your credit enough to qualify for an unsecured card — a card without a deposit and with better benefits. Choose a secured card with a low annual fee and make sure it reports to all three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion."
So... the way to build some credit without having credit is to grab a secured card, put some money down as a deposit, make payments regularly (and on-time), and remain patient! Hope this helps and good luck!
