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[C809]College Student Credit Card

by Jon A, Jon

Even with the ready availability of a college student credit card, the majority of students going off to college these days do not have a clue how to handle financial responsibilities. When they needed money for something, they either asked their parents for it or they took it out of their savings from a job they are holding down while going to school. But the sad fact is that most of them do not have the first clue about handling financial or credit responsibilities.

You need to consider getting a college student credit card for your son or daughter when they go off to college or university. If you already have had a child in college, you know what I am talking about ? even for as much as you plan, budget, research, and then plan some more, there is always SOMETHING else that comes up that they need money for. There is going to be that additional textbook, that very helpful study guide, those lab fees, parking sticker fees, and the list goes on. You sent your child to college to LEARN, and NOT to be stressed out by the financial obligations that are coming at them from every different direction every day.

Outside of the convenience for you and the much greater peace of mind for your child, there are other advantages to getting them a college student credit card. As they were growing up to this point, chances are great that they did not learn fiscal responsibilities. This is not something that you should beat yourself up about ? with the hectic life of the high school student today, with soccer practice, football practice, band practice, various club meetings, an active social life, and of course the academics, there just has not been time in the day to approach that topic.

But at the same time, you want to give you child the best head-start possible when they graduate, especially in this very competitive and unforgiving business world. So why saddle them with learning about financial responsibility when they are stressing out about the job interviews, creating resumes, scanning classified ads, etc. When they are still in college is a great time to get them a college student credit card so they can slowly start to become used to getting regular monthly statements, learning about how little charges add up over the month, learn how interest accumulates if the balance is not paid in full, and how they will get stern yet firm telephone calls or emails from the card issuer when their payment is late. It is all part of the education process.

Establish a reasonable credit limit for them, which might be as low as $300 or $500. Do not allow them to have a huge credit limit until they have proven themselves as being financially responsible, because it is far too easy for them to get themselves into trouble with this aspect of ?free money?. They will quickly learn that it is far from free.

The interest rate that they will get with their college student credit card is probably going to be higher than what you would get when applying for a credit card, but the lenders are taking a chance here, so do not blame them. After your child has demonstrated a good payment history for 6 months to a year, they can call the card issuer and ask for a lower interest rate, since once they have established themselves, then they have incredible power to be much choosier about whose card they carry.

College student credit cards are a new marketing phenomenon. Two decades ago, college students never had the opportunity to take their pick of the credit cards currently available today. But with the changing needs of students all across America, it was only a matter of time before college student credit cards became a common medium of exchange.

What makes college student credit cards different?
Their function is exactly the same as that of regular credit cards, except that many credit card companies recognize the special needs of college students and offer certain perks that you normally won't find anywhere else. A student credit card, for example, can offer you a discount for the purchase of school supplies or other school-related materials. It can also come at a much lower interest rate.

Where can I find them?
Everywhere, actually. Your school campus, for one. Each September you'll probably find credit card representatives setting up tables and kiosks on your campus grounds to offer their college student credit cards services. A pretty convenient opportunity if you decide to get your credit card this way. You can also take advantage of the free stuff these companies usually give away with each application.

On the downside, you could be limiting your options to what these credit card companies have to offer. More often than not, many of the college student credit cards that are marketed on campuses don't always have the best rates. They may, in fact, be quite high.

To find the best rates, you might want to call up several credit card companies to see what their interest rates are or go online and shop around. You shouldn't be pressured to get a college student card offered on campus if you could get one with a better APR online.

What good would a college student credit card do for me?
A lot, actually. It is a good and safe substitute for cash and is a convenient way to pay for anything you wish to buy. It can tide you over in case of emergencies when money is tight and you can access many services online and off with a simple swipe.

A college student credit card can also give you your first taste of financial independence and responsibility. After all, you will be the one who'll be shelling out the cash to pay for your credit card bill each month. It can give you your first-hand experience in managing your money and teach you some valuable lessons in the process.

Is plastic always fantastic?
You may have heard of the horror stories, but much of the rap that college student credit cards receive is mostly undeserved. College student credit cards aren't innately evil; it's the way they are used that leads a student to a lot of financial trouble.

Many college students fall hard and heavy for the spending power that credit cards give. They go right ahead and charge a lot of stuff they don't really need and can't afford to pay for at the end of the month.

There are serious ramifications for this kind of irresponsibility. If a student allows his bad spending habits to continue, he could rack up a huge credit card bill that he is ill equipped to pay for. It's not uncommon to find a student struggling with a huge credit card debt even before he graduates from college.

On the brighter side?
It's not always a sad relationship. Just like any financial tool, a college student credit card can help you build and establish a good credit history, provided you use it responsibly. Remember that convenience comes with a price. If you have the discipline and can stick to a budget, a college student credit card may just work in your favor.

Article Source : Credit Cards for College Students

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