Avoiding College Credit Card Traps

Congratulations college freshman! You're about to embark on one of the most exciting times of your life. By now your parents, siblings, and friends have offered you all kinds of advice on how to make your transition to college smoother - how to get along with your roommate, what classes to take and which ones to avoid, where to find the best off-campus food, and how to stay safe on campus.

One thing they may have not warned you about is how quickly you'll be bombarded with credit card offers. You'll find them in your textbooks, in your mailbox, and on every campus bulletin board. You'll be offered free DVD's, t-shirts, music downloads, and more in return for completing an application for credit.

Why all this fuss over you for a stupid piece of plastic? Because they love to recruit new borrowers, especially in your age bracket. They know, from numerous studies, that college students tend to be impulse buyers. And even though your impulse purchases tend to be small - pizza, coffee, beer, CD's, cigarettes, books, etc. - those small purchases can add up quickly.

Fifty-four percent of freshman students and 92 percent of sophomores have at least one credit card. A recent study shows the average college student graduates with between $1,500 - $3,000 in credit card debt.

Here are 7 tips to help you manage your college credit card needs:

1) Look for a card with the lowest fixed percentage rate and a low or no annual fee. Read the fine print carefully - many low or 0% introductory rate offers expire in 6-12 months.

2) NEVER use your credit card for a cash advance. The fees and repayment structure associated with a cash advance are outrageous.

3) Have a budget! Your credit card is not free money. Budget your money so that you can pay off your balance at the end of each month. If you can't pay off the balance, always make more than just the minimum payment.

4) Pay your bills on time, otherwise you'll pay a late fee between $25-40 every time your late with a payment. Late payments will also increase your chances of having your percentage rate raised on ALL your credit accounts.

5) Request a low credit limit somewhere between $700-$1,500. The object is to have credit available to meet some of your expenses and in case of an emergency.

6) Less is better. You don't need more than one or two cards at the most. The more you have the more tempted you'll be to use them or to "max" them out.

7) Consider using a debit card instead. A debit card is linked to your checking account and purchases are automatically deducted from your account balance. Of course, make sure you have money in your account to cover any purchases you make.

Using a credit card is a big responsibility whether you're a college student or an adult. Managing your credit wisely establishes a positive credit history which will serve you now and well into the future.

© 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Author: James H. Dimmitt
James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his e-book "IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!" and other bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Credit Information:

Related Articles

New Credit Advice: Dont Pay off Those Credit Cards!
Credit needed for real estate mortgage financing differs from credit needed for consumer loans. If you need help getting a home mortgage, these credit tips will help you.
Credit Verus Debt
Secured and unsecured debt - what's the difference?It's easy to just think that debt is just debt, but in reality, there are different types of loans, and it's important to know what which type you have.You will need to understand the differences in order to be a good money manager, or, if the worse happens and you find yourself turning to credit or debt counseling, you'll need to understand how different types of debt can be handled.
Dont Dig Your Own Pit
If you want to enjoy your life out of spending, enjoy if you have your own resources and money.But don't enjoy your life by becoming a debtor to somebody.
Special Credit Information for Married Couples
If you are married, establish separate credit accounts.Try to finance real estate in just one partner's name to increase your investment financing potential.
What Should I Do If I've Become a Victim of Identity Theft?
Identity thieves take advantage of everyday opportunities to discover your personal information and use it to commit fraud or other crimes. The good news is a victim of identity theft has more options today than ever before.
Why Consumers Need a Nationwide Credit Freeze NOW
What do a shoe retailer, an online discount broker, and a popular clothing retailer all have in common? All three - DSW Shoe Warehouse, Ameritrade, and Polo Ralph Lauren - sustained breaches to their customers' accounts. Unfortunately, these three are not alone when it comes to security breaches.
Give Yourself Credit
The Beginning of the Credit Card EraIn 1951, Diners Club issued the first credit card to 200 customers who could use it at 27 restaurants in New York City. From that modest beginning, credit cards have become an indispensable part of modern life.
Grants, Loans, Free Credit Cards And Credit Repair: The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth
You got creditors calling you everyday. You could lose the car or house.
Harassment of People in Debt by Creditors
HarassmentHarassment of people in debt by creditors or their agents is a criminal offence under the Administration of Justice Act 1970. It is often difficult to know what to do when you feel a creditor is not dealing with your account fairly.
Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle!
Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle! (Part 1 of 2 on Credit Scoring)Just when most people finish with school and can stop worrying about test scores, there's a new kind of scoring that enters the picture. It's called credit scoring.
Maximizing Credit Card Rewards
We spend money every single day on many different types of products and services and the banks' newest offer is that of saving when spending if you use their services; that is if you pay for your expenditures with special credit cards. These credit cards are part of a wide offer and the best thing to do is read as many bank-offers as possible before choosing a particular card.
Shoppers Beware - Tis The Season
It's the number one complaint from consumers and it only takes a moment for you to become a victim. While you search for holiday bargains, identity thieves are searching for targets - unsuspecting consumers.
5 Steps You Can Take to Get Paid!
There are always some companies that have past due invoices and can't seem to get them paid. They might be quietly waiting to get paid not wanting to contact the client for fear of appearing "desperate".
Warning: Todays Non Profit Credit Counselors Are Yesterdays Bill Collectors!
Here's a dirty secret, today's "non profit credit counselors" are often just front organizations paid lucrative commissions by creditors to keep consumers from declaring bankruptcy!In the "debt collection biz", creditors will sell your outstanding debt along with the debt of hundreds of others to a collection agency for cash up front.The collection agencies will work this debt until they've made all the money they can.
Credit Report - How Your Credit Score is Determined
Most consumers are aware that they have something known as a credit report that is used to determine whether or not they would qualify for a loan. Fewer are familiar with the FICO score, a creation of the Fair, Isaac, and Co.
Credit Cards - A Blessing or a Curse?
Owning a credit card can be quite an advantage. Whethermaking online purchases, booking an air ticket or a hotelroom on the phone or simply being in need of someemergency cash, having a credit card can be a big help.
Choosing The Credit Card That Is Right For You
Credit cards represent an important part of our financial lives. Having the right credit cards is essential and will make a big difference to your finances.
What is Credit Card and Debit Card Blocking?
Have you ever been told you were over your credit card limit, or had your debit card declined, even though you knew you had available credit or money in your bank account? If this happened shortly after you stayed in a hotel or rented a car, the problem could have been card "blocking."What is Blocking?When you use a credit or debit card to check into a hotel or rent a car, the clerk usually contacts the company that issued your card to give an estimated total.
Credit Help for Real Estate Financing: Five Categories of Your Credit Score
1. Payment History -- 35%The number of accounts paid as agreed and a good payment history give you a higher score.
SuperCharged Secret 1 of 5 - Credit Card Utopia
I AM THE CONSUMER. AND I HAVE LOW-RATE SUPER-POWERS!Note: The following is part 1 of a 5 part series.