subject: Managing Student Reward Credit Cards Properly [print this page] While some financial experts recommend the use of credit cards for students, some adults insist that letting young people handle credit card only leads to bad credit. Yet, considering the advantage of building an early credit history with a student credit card, youngsters are encouraged to focus on correct management, rather than completely shy away from using one.
Indeed, by exercising self-discipline and maturity, students can use their credit cards to build a solid foundation of their credit history without falling in the trap of bad credit. In this article, lets discuss useful tips on how student credit cardholders can correctly manage their credit card accounts:
Pay off balances in full. One crucial aspect in managing credit card debt is paying off your monthly balances completely. There are two major advantages with this kind of strategy. First, it eliminates the additional interest rate cost and second, it eliminates the risk of having bad credit.
On the contrary, paying just the minimum monthly due payment can put a credit cardholder in danger of bad credit. How so? As long as there is an outstanding balance in the account, the cardholder continues to incur extra charges on APR fees which can go up to 20% or higher.
Use it only for important things. Students need to be very discreet with how they use their student credit cards. Needless to say, if youre going to bring your credit card while spending night outs with your friends, you are more likely to spend it on your personal luxuries or unimportant purchases.
Remember, having a student credit card is supposed to be a tool to help you build your credit history. It can also be a great help during times of emergencies when cash is not available instantly. However, maintaining a good credit rating will greatly depend on how well you manage your account.
Start with one credit card. The new Credit CARD law prohibits credit card companies from performing marketing campaigns and setting up application booths within 1,000 feet of college campuses. Such restriction can make a big difference in discouraging college students from signing up for a credit card without first doing comparison or without studying the Terms and Conditions.
However, you may still receive credit card offers delivered via postal mail or e-mail. Its easy to get enticed by a deal, especially if there is a low rate or a zero interest rate offer. Some issuers may also offer free items or giveaways just for signing up. Watch out! When you fill out that credit card application, you are more likely to get approved anyway.
Because you are still a student without a permanent employment, its best to stick with just one credit card. Having too many cards in your wallet will only encourage spending. Furthermore, juggling in between payments and handling multiple accounts can prove to be a challenge. Thus, if you already have a student credit, just say no to new offers no matter how tempting the deal seems to be.
