10.08.09 | Choose Your First Credit Card Wisely
During my first month of school as a college Freshman I attended College Fest. College Fest was a huge back to school festival featuring live performances, contests and “free stuff”. As a freshman in college I could not resist free stuff! There were credit card companies everywhere giving away free t-shirts, backpacks and water bottles to any student who would sign up for one of their cards. I thought it was awesome! I signed up for three cards that day and walked away with a big bag of swag.
After a week or so I had completely forgotten about the cards I had signed up for, that is until my Mom came out for a visit with a pile of mail. I got a tongue lashing from her as she held up my newly minted credit cards. I promptly canceled all three and did not apply for another card until my senior year of college.
What I neglected to realize is that there is a right way and a wrong way to get your first credit card. The wrong way is to sign up for any old card just to get a free t-shirt. We all hate to do laundry, but one more extra large t-shirt is not going to make a huge difference in your wardrobe. What you need is a place to go where you can educate yourself about credit, like you are today. We can aid you with your credit card research and help determine the best credit card for you. We also provide credit education for students wanting to learn about APR, FICO scores, debt management, and money matter topics. I wish a site like this was around when I was a college freshman.
The truth is having a credit card to use while in college would have been beneficial for me, because it would have helped me establish credit before I dawned my cap and gown. It would have also taught me how to be a responsible credit card holder. Establishing a credit history in college can help you get a loan, buy a car, and rent an apartment when you graduate. When I bought my first car after college I needed to have someone cosign the loan since I had almost no credit history. Once again I was at Mom’s doorstep.
A credit card is also beneficial because it gives you security in emergency situations and enhances you sense of personal responsibility. If you establish healthy credit practices in college chances are they’ll follow you for a lifetime. I have a credit card that I use to make almost all of my purchases now, however, I make sure I do not spend more than I have in the bank and I pay it off in full every month. Because of this I have established excellent credit and was recently able to secure a mortgage to buy my first home. Having good credit really does pay.
The sooner you realize it’s a plastic world the better off you’ll be. Leave the t-shirts, backpacks and water bottles for the others to fight over. You’re on a different plan. You’re on the fast track to establishing a solid credit foundation that will set you up for the rest of your life.
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i think credit cards should be used for emergencies only
October 9th, 2009 | #
I need to build some credit.
October 9th, 2009 | #
Credit cards are a bad idea. you dont realize how much money you are spending when all you have to do is swipe a plastic card
October 11th, 2009 | #
Credit cards are ok, but often times companies will offer students cards with extremely high interest rates, APR and extra fees. So beware!
October 14th, 2009 | #
Ashley, I think you are missing the point of the article. Choosing a credit card because your getting a free gift or on a whim is a bad idea, if you do your research and use it wisely it can be a great credit building tool and help you in the long term.
October 14th, 2009 | #
Very good info
October 14th, 2009 | #
Very good info
October 16th, 2009 | #
I think credit cards should only be use when you are in thight bind.
October 16th, 2009 | #
I think credit cards should only be used if one has the money to pay off the debt immediately which helps build good credit. Also, if there is an emergency. Otherwise, use an atm or debit card because it comes straight out of one’s account without the interest.
October 16th, 2009 | #
Credit cards are great for building credit and that is the only thing that they are good for.
October 17th, 2009 | #
i think that was a very good idea in a way
October 17th, 2009 | #
wow.. definitely becareful
October 17th, 2009 | #
I haven’t even thought about getting a credit card at this point, even though I know I should. Thanks for the article!
October 17th, 2009 | #
It’s important to look at the interest rate too.
October 19th, 2009 | #
I’m going to agree w/ Victoria
October 19th, 2009 | #
I do not like credit card It will get you in to much debt.Credit cards know how to get young college student without a job ,when you finally college you be paying back loans and credit cards. I stay away from credit cards and loan.
October 20th, 2009 | #
It is good to have good credit because in the future when you are able to buy a car or a house good credit is a positive.
October 21st, 2009 | #
I think you should get a crdit card when your ready for the responsibility of having one.
October 21st, 2009 | #
Very very very vaulable information!!!
October 21st, 2009 | #
thanks for the useful info!!
October 21st, 2009 | #
i think that you should have one
October 22nd, 2009 | #
credit card is easly portabile ,in addation to this , using cash may expose us for robe beside this the amount of money that we are going to expend will increase when we use cash money but with cradit card we cant access every thing we want becouse the service is not accessable in every corner.
October 23rd, 2009 | #
Whoa.. I was totally considering the path to no-credit-card usage during college because of the many horror financial stories.. Credit history, eh? Thank you so much for posting this article up! *_*
October 25th, 2009 | #
i think credit is important buy scary. jaja i need to build credit
October 27th, 2009 | #
People in general should stay away from CC becuase ones you get use to the buy now pay later deal you never end up paying later for it and you end up paying alot more for what you purchased in the first place.
October 27th, 2009 | #
credit card are ok….. if u use them wisely
October 28th, 2009 | #
i’ve been researching different credit cards to get, but haven’t decided on one yet. i am just doing it to build my credit for my future.
October 30th, 2009 | #
Credit Cards can be great for some things, but use it wisely. Like use it for food and needs are great but if we pay it for fun, its have to be worth it.
November 2nd, 2009 | #
thanks for the insight on credit cards and establishing a good credit history in college to help you out in the future. This will be just one of the many things that will help when I am considering some of those major decisions for college. So thank you!
November 3rd, 2009 | #
i am in the process of convincing myself i can finally handle a credit card so thanks for the insight
November 5th, 2009 | #
thanxx for the advise
November 6th, 2009 | #
I have a credit card yet i haven’t used it. If we don’t use it…is there no credit in it?
November 8th, 2009 | #
I dont wanna credit card they suck
November 9th, 2009 | #
I have bad credit. no credit cards for me.
November 12th, 2009 | #
I need it for emergencies and/or temporary money and want to build up my credit in the process.
November 13th, 2009 | #
Personally, sometimes the idea of credit cards scare me, especially given that it’s almost required to have one to do a number of things, espcially online.
November 14th, 2009 | #
Credit Cards actually scare me and I don’t like how many things today require you to have credit cards, espcially online
November 14th, 2009 | #
great idea.
November 14th, 2009 | #
i personally would jus avoid credit card period but, in todays advancing world i dont think it is possible.
November 20th, 2009 | #