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I have been lucky in that as hard (well, not really) as I tried, no one would give me a credit card. I always wondered: How am I supposed to establish a credit record if no one will give me any credit?

So, I paid cash, and used layaways. If I didnt have the money, I didnt get whatever it was I wanted.

At age 33, I decided to go to college. I work 3 nights/week, take home about $900-1600/month (am a semi-pro poker player as well as a restaraunt server), have bills of about $800/month (conservatively). I get a student loan check (are you getting SLs, conservative? Max them and apply all of it to your CC debt) for about $2100 that goes straight into the bank for any sort of emergencies and I live rather comfortably, albeit with a really screwed up schedule. If I want something, I buy it. I do not go to bars or clubs, and if I want a beer, I buy a six pack at the store for 6 bucks (Fat Tire Amber, yum) rather than paying $3.50 for a pounder at the local pub.

I simply make sure that my basic needs are covered and live a pretty mellow lifestyle. The riskiest thing that I do for fun actually pays me (poker) and it also manages to provide me with some decent luxuries (steak dinners). I have no articles of clothing that say 'The Gap', 'Old Navy' or 'Billabong' or any other such BS. I refuse to pay $50+ for a $10 sweatshirt. That is one of the biggest problems of youth nowadays. Paying loads of cash for stupid vanity items. It isnt hard, but then again, younger people dont possess the kind of common sense that I do now. Hell, I didnt either...JFK

College kids get bombarded with credit card offers. I know I did. Every single week in the mail, even at concerts and sporting events. I didn't get one, didn't need to until I was about 26 or so.

I never gave into the CC companies during those "starving college years". If I didn't have the cash, I couldn't buy it.

Mac-n-cheese and Miller High Life could go far though, you'd be surprised. LOL!

I always wondered: How am I supposed to establish a credit record if no one will give me any credit?

Buy something even if you don't need it. Try a furniture store. Nothing major, maybe a table. Make the payments even if you could pay it off. In a couple years there it will be--an excellent credit rating.