When you don’t have a credit history, it’s hard to move out on your own, get a car, or even apply for a personal loan. But how do you build your credit when it seems like no one will give you a chance because, well, you don’t have any credit?

It turns out, there are a few tools you can use to get your feet off the ground. We’re going to look at the ways you can responsibly build your credit and finally get a history of responsible repayment under your belt.

Look for Secured Credit Cards or Loans

Starting with a secured credit card is almost always the first solid step to building your foundation of credit history. A secured card simply means you pay a lump sum of money up front and that sum that will likely be the equivalent of the balance on your credit card.

You can use the card just as you would any credit card, to make purchases and get in the habit of paying for those purchases by the due date on your statement. If you fail to pay it off in full, you’ll also incur interest, just as you would with a standard credit card.

Once you close the account, your deposit will be returned to you, as secured cards aren’t meant for long-term use. You need about 6 months of an open line of credit in order to have a FICO score, so set your goal for 9-12 months of use, and then you’ll see you’ve realized your goals through this approach.

Credit-Builder Loans

There exist loans that are specifically designed to build credit. We call them credit-builder loans. The money you’ll borrow will be held by the lender in an account and those funds won’t be released to you until the loan is repaid. It’s a hybrid form of savings and borrowing, where you make payments into an account in the same fashion you’d make payments on a personal loan. They’re really common with credit unions and community banks, and even online sites like Self Lender.

Become a User on Someone Else’s Credit Card

Family members and partners may have the willingness to add you as an authorized user on their card. You’ll have access to a credit card, and build your credit, but you won’t retain the legal obligation to make payments.

This can be tricky because your liability isn’t quite as high as it would be if you took out a line of credit of your own. You’ll also want the primary cardholder to check if the lender reports user activity to the credit bureaus. If they don’t, this would not be the most effective way for you to build your credit.

Find a Co-Signer

Co-signing is an effective way to help you get a loan or line of credit in your name without an established credit history, however, it doesn’t have to be your first option. When someone agrees to co-sign on a line of credit with you, they are on the hook for the entire amount owed if you find you can’t make a repayment, and their credit will reflect your repayments. With all of the other options available for building and establishing credit, this is one that has the potential to be a real source of stress for the co-signer, and should really be navigated with caution.

If you’re looking to establish your credit with the goal of laying a solid framework for your financial future, we hope you’ll look into these options and give them a try!