Ah, those college days! To most of us, they bring back memories of
first
loves, long hours studying for
exams, and endless parties with the best friends of a lifetime.
But all this
fun can come at a cost-as the
credit card bills of most
college students attest too. It's a shame that kids can graduate
college with thousands of dollars of debt, instead of just a
promising future.
Credit Pacific Service Union
Some might argue that college kids just shouldn't have credit
cards at all. They can't handle it, these people say. But that's
not a fair option either, because credit cards give personal and
financial freedom that college kids deserve. The answer is
somewhere in the middle. College kids should have access to credit
cards, but they should also learn to control their spending to
avoid crippling debt.
Use It (Wisely) Or Lose It Many Americans, including college kids, are in debt over the heads. Before getting your student credit card, be sure to understand everything about credit. Credit cards make it easy, and tempting, to go on a spending spree. But spend more on your college student credit cards than you make you'll quickly find yourself drowning in debt. High interest rates, limit fees can cause your monthly balance to get way out of control. If you can't pay your bills, your credit history will be destroyed. Bad credit can keep you from getting student loans, buying a car, purchasing a home... even getting your dream job.
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1. Plan a Budget
"Three out of five students with credit cards in our survey had already maxed them out during their freshmen year and, three out of five freshmen with multiple credit cards were already using bank cards to pay for other revolving credit accounts. Furthermore, fourths of students use their student loans to pay for their credit cards. Not incidentally, recent studies indicate that this indiscriminate marketing to college students has led to high incidences of fraud and identity theft among this young adult population, " Manning testified.297
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One of the best ways to control spending is the
old-fashioned budget. It may sound like
an anachronism in a world of keg parties and all-you-can-eat pizza
fests, but a budget could go a long way to preventing bad credit.
First, figure out all your weekly, or monthly, expenses, such as
food, books, bus fare, etc. A credit card statement is a great way
to calculate this budget.
* Free gas Cash back on a college credit card is actually a kind of points system. As you spend money these points accumulate on your college credit card account. Then they can be exchanged for cash, gift certificates or special discounts at popular outlets and stores. While the amount of 'cash back' that you get as a college credit card reward might seem small, remember that every little bit helps and you will soon be racking it up.
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2. Follow Your Budget Carefully
Credit Report Basics for College Students College students, employment background checks include credit reports. Employers may use a credit report to select against a job applicant with a poor credit report in favor of an equally qualified applicant with a good credit history. Your credit report may also affect your eligibility for loans and the interest rate you pay when you borrow money to purchase a new car or a house after graduation.
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Then plan to use your credit card for just these expenses-and pay
for these expenses. You see, the only problem with credit cards is
if you don't pay them off month to month. If you plan ahead with
your budget, and only spend the amount you planned every week and
month, then you will be able to pay off your credit card on each
statement. That, my friends, means no debt will build up.
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3. Consider Only Using Your Credit Card for Major Purchases
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Another view of credit cards goes like this: they should not be
used for everyday purchases, but instead used for big buys. In this
view, your monthly budget expenses would only come out of your cash
fund. Your credit card, then, would be used for long-term
purchases, such as furniture, books, and other things that may take
longer to pay off.
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4. Don't Splurge
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Going along with this view is the fourth way to help control your
spending in college. And that is-don't use your credit card for
little splurges, like buying a round of beers for friends, sodas at
the campus store, or CDs over the Internet. You're better off
leaving your credit card in a safe spot, checking your wallet for
cash, and if it's not there, then don't buy!
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5. Don't Let Your Parents Help You
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Last but not least, you can control your spending with college
student credit cards by not allowing your parents to pay off your
balance every month! Yes, believe it or not, taking a little bit of
personal responsibility for yourself-even if you are in college-can
go a long way to helping you hold off on irresponsible
purchases.
Christian Counseling Credit
Joshua Shapiro recommends Find Credit Cards to find
college student credit cards.
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