Hi,
When I set out to get a quest machine I had only 4,000 credits. I donot use mules so that did not help me. Although I thought about creating a new character so I could use all the "first timer codes" for credits, I wanted to run quests on my main character so upon finding out the machine was not tradeable, that was out.
So, that left the good old fashioned way - play games. And play and play and play and play and play and play and play and play and play and play and play.
Seriously. Now, the side benefit that came from this? I became really good at fireworks - my game of choice. I still have not broken 240K, but my personal best got better and better. Yay!
Then, at 17,000 some very nice ppl - you know who you are - helped me out by giving me a few pieces of furniture that re-sold for high points and helped me earn my last needed points in any way they could.
And that's it. Oh, yea, and not buying ANYTHING.
That is how I got mine. It took over a week and a very strong commitment. No idea how some people have done it in a couple of days, but that is my story of how I did it. It can be done - just takes tunnel vision and commitment. Good luck!