Credit cards?........

[Mr 5 0]

As someone who is only 18 and has no established credit history you can probably expect to get a credit card with a low credit limit...probably $300. Although the credit card companies want you to stretch out your re-payments to charge you interest, you always have the option of paying off your entire credit card balance as soon as you receive the bill as this is the law. Usually, if you use the card regularly (as you intend to) and pay off the balance immediately, they will raise your credit limit after 6 months or a year, often to a few thousand dollars.

I would suggest trying Capital One @ www.capitalone.com and apply online. They are a huge bank and have every conceivable type of credit card available, including those for young people with little or no credit history, like you.

Although you can use postal money orders to pay your credit card bill, that's not really necessary today because you can obtain a checking account easily and many banks now offer checking accounts with no fees at all, except the cost of the checks (about $15. for 200 checks...all you need). Shop around (via phone) for a no-fee checking account in your area.

I encourage you to open a checking account and apply for a credit card because you'll eventually want and need both, even if you don't intend to use it right now. You won't always be 18, single and unencumbered so establishing credit is a 'must' for any serious future plans, such as buying a late-model or new car, a home or even expensive appliances or equipment. Naturally, you will want to be responsible with any credit you receive as knowing you can whip out a credit card and just say "charge it" is a big temptation to buy more 'stuff' than you can really afford and eventually getting into debt that can haunt you for years. Not fun.

Good luck.