People who are just starting out might find it hard to get a loan or a credit card. That’s because having no credit history makes it difficult for lenders to know if you’re a good risk to repay a loan and make your payments on time.

Establishing a good credit history is not as difficult as it seems. In all cases, however, you’ll need to make payments on time. Some tips include:

• Apply for a credit card through a local store. Local stores are more likely to extend credit to people without an established credit history.
• Apply for a secured credit card. By borrowing against your own money, creditors find this to be far less risky.
• Ask someone with a good credit history to co-sign on a loan or a credit card application. By co-signing, the person is agreeing to pay back the loan if you don’t.