Credit Cards For College Students - Sensible Use

Summary: Using a student credit card sensibly can mean the difference between having a viable and useful line of credit or a crippling debt. This article looks at the sensible use of a credit card.

Credit cards for college students can prove vital, especially when it comes to financial emergencies. Parents aren't always around to bail out their children and by offering students a credit card it is possible to not only provide them with security for these emergencies but also teach them about the sensible use of credit cards and credit accounts in general. On the positive side, student credit card limits are usually set quite low making it difficult to run up masses of debt on one individual card but it is still possible without careful management. Why Students Need Credit Cards Student credit cards are only financially crippling when they are used incorrectly. In the case of students, running up bills on numerous student credit cards can mean repaying the debt over the next ten years and possibly even longer. However, as well as being ideal for use in emergencies they also offer the opportunity to build a credit history, without which it is virtually impossible to get a mortgage or other lines of credit. A Single Application For A Single Card As a student, the most important aspect of managing your credit is not getting carried away. This should start with your first application. Credit cards for college students are just that; lenders will usually accept your application with little fuss. You should not apply for multiple student cards in the fear that your application won't be accepted. Select the most appropriate student credit card and then complete your application. By all means, if that particular lender refuses your application then apply for the next most suitable. There are plenty of credit cards for college students available from different lenders. Sensible Use Of Your Credit Card Another temptation is to apply for more cards simply to have more credit available. Don't forget that a student credit card does not offer free money and you will have to make the repayments on all money you borrow. Bearing this in mind you should only use your credit card when you need the credit it offers and when you know you will be able to make the necessary repayment. The longer you borrow money without repaying the capital, the more repayments you will have to make. The Joint Application Card Joint application student credit cards provide a monthly statement to the student and to the parents. This enables parents to monitor the amount of money that their children are spending and, if necessary, help to make the necessary repayments. A joint application credit card is the best option available because of this feature. When possible try to use cash or your debit card in place of your credit card. It may not seem too big a problem to buy a meal at the student union on your credit card but if you keep using it in this way, the money soon adds up to an uncontrollable figure. One final important factor to remember is that a t-shirt or a hat is not a good incentive to apply for a credit card. Always consider the application you make based on the merit of the credit card itself. Look at the interest rates, the incentives and any fees that may be associated with it and base your final decision on these.