Credit Card Tips
for College Students
1. Choose your first credit card carefully
As a student you will receive many credit card offers, but you must chose wisely. In order to do this it is a good idea to research each card and find the pros and cons of each one to decide which best suits you.
2. Make sure you understand all of the credit card’s terms
People usually don't research credit cards before they get them and then they are charged with something and have no idea what it is, this is because they didn't take the time to understand the terms of their credit card. You should know the APR, introductory rate, the penalty charges, how much it is and when it is applied, etc. before you get the card.
3. Pay your balance on time and in full every month
4. Know how much you can afford to charge
5. Don’t open too many cards
Just about every shop or store has a credit card offer, even if you shop there often and love going there it is important to not give in. Having too many cards makes it difficult to keep track of your spending and payment due dates, and it also provides too many opportunities to get into debt. When you’re new to using credit, the best thing to do is keep one or two credit cards for your daily spending and stick to just those cards until you’ve gotten the hang of regularly charging your purchases and paying your monthly bills. No need to overcomplicate your financial life before you have to!
citations
"Top Five Credit Card Tips For Students - NerdWallet." NerdWallet. N.p., 18 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
"Credit Card Tips." Smore. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.