years ago i was somewhat in the same boat as your buddy.i had no credit history.i always paid cash.well one day i needed some tires,the store was advertising 90 days same as cash.i had money for 2 tires but wanted 4.so they had me fill out a credit app,well it came back denied.guy told me i needed to go somewhere and apply for credit.i told him thats what i was doing there.seems like nobody wants to be the first.he suggested buying say a t.v. from sears and making payments.i said i had gotten lots of loans thru the bank,but evidently those don't go on your credit report.