The concept of credit may seem intimidating or even not worth the trouble at first glance. The risk of acquiring too much debt or the responsibility of having to make monthly payments or face severe consequences, and so forth, can make it seem like it's a better idea to just stick to cash and maybe a checking account. But the truth is that credit is an important part of giving yourself a firm foundation for financial success. In this course, you'll discover why you need credit, as well as some of the reasons why you might want credit. We'll discuss what lenders look at, including your credit history and credit scores. We'll also go over common loan types.