Leviathan says:

I don't think you should get a card. I think your instincts are quite right and you don't have to get credit to "rebuild". Time and the lack of bad marks on your credit will heal it. I promise.

Devi replies:

That's interesting...I had heard that rebuilding your credit was important. I know that one of the things that counts against me is my lack of good credit payment schedule, since the only things on my report are bad (and that thing with the other car payment will be on my credit til 2009! :'( ). I was thinking I needed to prove I could handle credit, and you're saying it's better to just not worry about it and let things age off?

Leviathan says:

Let's say it's a year later and now you've gotten a new(er) car, paid cash for your vacation, and gotten about $5000 in the bank for emergencies. You haven't saved anything else for retirement or for college fund, but now you have a safety cushion and no debt. Now you can begin stuffing those accounts full knowing that you're on much sounder financial footing.

Devi replies:

A six-month cushion for my bills is almost $9500. That IS overwhelming and scary, yes. :( If I was to focus solely on that, it would take me years! My bf, of course, shares in the bills, but it IS hard not to panic with that kind of number. Even if I do a lot of work for my Mom, taking on a second job at $200 a month, it still will take a year and a half.

My retirement account comes out automagically, it's a 401k, so that's "forgotten money" as far as I'm concerned. I don't see it, it doesn't count. ;)