• What is consumer Credit?
• How do I estabish Credit?
• How do I improve my existing Credit?
• How do I manage my Credit?
• Track your spending

In order to establish a credit history, you need to borrow money and pay it back over time. Here are two ways to do this:

Apply for a retail store or gasoline credit card
They’re a good start to help you build a credit history. Make a few small purchases for necessary items and factor these payments into your budget. Be aware of the payment due date and make your payments on time. By making timely monthly payments, you'll start building a credit history.

Apply for a major credit card like MasterCard^® with a secured credit limit
Even though you have bad credit or no credit, you may still qualify for a major credit card. Here's how it works: you put a certain amount of cash (say $1,000) in a frozen bank account for security, and the bank issues you a credit card with a similar credit limit. Talk to a customer service representative at your financial institution for more details.

Re-establishing credit after bad debts
Credit reports list charged-off debts for 6 years and bankruptcy for 7, so it's not easy. Still, try the two methods above. You may also qualify for a personal loan or a home equity loan, through a lender like HSBC Finance Corporation Canada. Some lenders’ credit guidelines are different than traditional lenders and you may be able to qualify for a small personal loan, even if you’ve experienced credit difficulties in the past. As a homeowner, you can borrow against the equity you’ve built in your home through a Home Equity Loan.