Student Credit Cards
One has to give praise to a college student. Sometimes they just do not have it so easy. They need to figure out what there study is going to be. Some are in college for several years before they decide what they want to be when they grow up. Others, thankfully, know before they have even finished high school. Then they need to decide what the best school will be for them to complete there course of study. Next they have to figure out how they will pay for it. That is a lot of stuff on a young persons mind.
Having a college student credit card can help relieve some of that stress after they have started school. A college student credit card can help them when they realize the lab books they have to have for that class was not figured in with the tuition and fees. What are they going to do to get it? Or, maybe they have a car that likes to have much attention. Once again, what are they going to do? A student credit card, in there position, will take the stress right off when they realize they have a card for just such emergency.
Were does one go to obtain a college student credit card. That is probably the easiest question to answer. They have probably been receiving literature in the mail since there senior year in high school asking them to apply for a college student credit card. Also, on campus and at the college financial aid office they will find many brochures from many different credit card companies.
Why in the world would a credit card company offer someone going to school with no job or a part time job making minimum wage and no credit history a credit card? Good question. The guidelines for a college student credit card are much easier than for a regular credit card. They realize you have no or very little credit history and that you probably have just a minimum amount of money coming in monthly.
This is a good time for them to help teach you in a slow way how to handle your finances. Along with most college student credit cards they will offer you free tips for dealing with your finances in a positive and productive manner. They will also offer benefits or perks when using your card and paying on it. They will offer bonus point when you shop at certain stores or 0% financing for the first six month. They may even offer frequent flyer miles. What more could you ask for.
The trick is to look at the offers seriously and read about them all. If you are considering getting a certain college student credit card because they want to give you a t-shirt that really is not much of a perk is it. You probably have more then enough t-shirts in your closet. Or, if they are offering frequent flyer miles and you have no intentions of flying anywhere that probably is not the card for you either. My point is research and read the fine print before you obtain a card and handle the financial issues with knowledge.
Interesting Reading: The Debt Trap : Colleges Profit as Banks Market Credit Cards to College Students - From The New York Times