Credit card companies want you to use plastic, so they make applying for a credit card really easy. Even your cat could do it. (Seriously, let him at it.)

The hard part is finding the right card for you. Once you're over that hurdle, all you need to do is fill out a paper form (old school) or an online application.

You'll need to provide the following deets:

• Your name, address, and contact info
• Your social security number (so that the credit card company can pull your credit score to decide what interest rate to charge you and whether to even hand you a credit card)
• How much money you make
• Where you work

Once you've filled out everything, just hit "done" or snail mail your paper application.

With all that info, the credit card company will get back to you with an offer. Your offer will include a credit card rate (which might be different from the advertised rate) and your credit limit. It'll also include a credit card agreement so that if you accept the offer, you can fill out all the paperwork to actually get your card.

It's all very painless—until your first bill arrives.