I just turned 18 and I am trying to get my own place but they said I need to have good credit. To have good credit, they said I have to build good credit, but the only way to build good credit is to have good credit. Why is that? I was looking at credit cards and purchases become way more expensive when you buy them a credit card. So why use one? But to build credit you need to use one. Am I mistaken? Could someone explain how a credit card works please?