| |
| |
|
Credit Information |
|
|
|
Student Credit Cards 101
If you're a college student, you probably already have a credit card. If not, you may have plans to get one or more soon. So why should you read on?
For those new to credit cards and for others who know all about credit, let's go back to the basics. Why do credit card companies court college students? It's obvious by the friendly representatives who offer a free t-shirt or CD just for signing up in the student center. Or the applications slipped into bookstore bags. Or mail boxes crowded with card offers. Credit card companies want college students to carry their card. Did you ever stop to wonder why? One reason is loyalty-once a person has a card in their wallet, they are likely to keep that particular card and its upgrades for years to come. Another reason: college students are good customers. While this may seem ironic considering that most college students are without a steady source of income, Robert Manning, Ph.D., Professor in the College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology and author of Credit Card Nation, says this is one example of how the credit card industry has changed radically in the past decade or so. "Previously, conservative rules deemed a good customer as one that paid their bills on time," he says. "Now, a good customer is one that can't repay their debt." "Credit is no longer an earned privilege," continues Dr. Manning. "It's now considered a social entitlement, and the screening criteria (for card applicants) is weak." Banks make money by charging annual fees, late payment penalties and interest fees on unpaid credit card balances. Therefore, card holders with revolving debt (those who do not pay their balances in full each month) are desirable. NellieMae.org illustrates this point beautifully through an example of a student with a credit card balance of $7,000 at an interest rate of 18.9%. If this student faithfully makes the minimum monthly payment of 3% or $25 - whichever is higher, and does not charge anything else to the account, it will take more than 16 years and $7,173 in interest fees to repay the bill! Additionally, Manning notes the banking industry has learned that college students will draw upon various sources of income to pay their debt-including student loans, money from part-time jobs, and as a last resort, many will ask a family member to supply the funds to get them out of debt. How to make credit work for you, not against you According to Nellie Mae, 81% of college freshman have at least one credit card. And for good reason. Credit cards enable online purchases-from text books to concert tickets, make it possible to rent a car, and help with medical emergencies or vehicle breakdowns. Used wisely, credit cards can be helpful throughout college, and can assist you in the development of financial management skills. As soon as you get your first credit card or loan, you have entered the world of credit reports and scores. A credit report is compiled by credit bureaus and contains information about your identity and credit relationships, among other things. Credit scoring is a system that lenders use to help determine your 'credit worthiness.' Credit scores are based upon your bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, outstanding debt and the age of your accounts. It's vital to know that your credit score affects your ability to get loans, car loans, and home mortgages. Future jobs and insurance premiums can also be influenced by your credit score. By paying your bills in full or in a timely manner, a credit card will help you establish a good credit score. Late payment or no payment will help you earn a poor credit score. For more information on credit reports and scores and how they affect you, check out CardRatings.com. Developing a new view about credit Mary Ann Campbell, CFP, founder of MoneyMagic.com and a money educator, cites unrealistic expectations as a major reason for high student debt. Campbell, who teaches personal finance courses, says "Many students' expectations of their earning potential after college far exceeds what their actual income will be." She notes that some students use their credit cards with abandon during college, planning to pay off their debt when they land that great job after college. Indeed, some students forget that in order to get to the top of the career ladder, there are a few rungs, i.e., less paying jobs, they have to climb first. And the expense of starting a new job and life on your own can just add to existing debt. Manning's website, CreditCardNation.com, contains a great resource for students seeking a more realistic view of the first few years after college. Using the 'Budget Estimator,' a module designed by Manning, students can identify an average yearly or monthly starting salary for jobs in their particular major. The program automatically figures in estimates for taxes and social security payments. Students can then plug in expenses for housing, car payments, utilities, food, insurance, telephone and internet bills, clothing, credit card bills, student loan payments, and entertainment, etc. The module lets you know when you have spent more money than you make, and allows you to adjust payments as necessary until you get the hang of how your money is best distributed. Students that seem to have the most credit woes? Those who believe their standard of living during and after college should not vary from when they lived at home on their parents' income. Cable television, cell phones with cameras, and new cars become 'necessities' instead of nice extras. Advice to grow on When it comes to credit cards, students have great advice for other students. Heather, a college junior from Arkansas, recommends getting one card with a low limit. "This limits the amount of credit you have access to and therefore removes the temptation to spend more than you have or more than you can pay off immediately," she says. Another student recommends selectivity. "Don't sign up for a card that charges an annual fee to use it, and read the terms of the card before applying. You wouldn't believe how many people don't know what an APR rate is." For more information on finding the best rated cards, check out CardRatings.com. You can read reviews of cards from other students and get the lowdown on perks of various credit cards. Campbell has three recommendations for students: The first is open communication. Campbell says students who are educated about financial matters seem to have a better overall attitude regarding credit cards. Students should find a trusted source to talk openly with about money issues. Second, students should switch from spending behaviors (such as shopping) to activities that help you achieve the same feeling of gratification or reward, such as intramurals, exercise or campus organizations. Last, but certainly not least, enroll in a personal finance course as soon as your schedule allows. Says Campbell, "If it's not required coursework, take it as an elective. You will learn a set of life skills that will not only help you right now, but also after college and for the rest of your life." About The Author Rebecca Lindsey is a Senior Staff Writer for http://www.CardRatings.com. She began writing articles about consumer credit issues for http://www.CardRatings.com in September 2000.
MORE RESOURCES:
Credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Credit Report Hassles There is no end to the amount of pain that your credit report can cause you. If you have a bad credit history this is something that can follow you around and wreak havoc on your life without you even knowing it. New Credit Scoring Model Could Help Millions Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They budgeted and used their money wisely in order to save for the down payment. The Truth About Credit What you might not know about credit.Some people don't know about a loop hole in the credit reporting system. Credit cards If gold medals were awarded for marketing consistency, the credit card industry would be the Sarah Hughes of the business world. Major players Visa and MasterCard, who have maintained their steady rates of spending and commitment to their positioning platforms for years, will stick to their established routines this year. Home Loans - Repair Your Credit Before You Buy Before you take out a home loan or make any major purchase, you should be aware that any prospective lender will want to take a look at your credit report. Your credit report is a record of all of your past financial dealings, and any loans, credit cards, judgements, bankruptcies or other major financial transactions are listed there. 10 Signs You May Need Credit Counseling Debt management programs can be of real help for people that discover they cannot face their debts. At first, they will attempt to solve the situation all by themselves by cutting down on spending and keeping a close eye on accounts. Credit Repair Kit Sound To Good To Be True? It Is. A lot of people have bad credit. It is unfortunate that good people with good intentions are sometimes lured into credit card offers with outrageous interest rates or convinced to buy a new, overpriced car that they cannot afford. Looking for that Low interest Credit Card? If you have been shopping around for a Low Interest Credit Card you will notice that the UK market is awash with Credit Card companies offering low rates to entice you to apply for their Cards.There has never been a better time to consolidate your credit cards and get a far better interest rate. Beware of Falling Minimum Payments If you opened a credit card statement recently and were pleasantly surprised to find that your minimum payment due was lowered, don't be so quick to "jump for joy". What may appear as a small boost to your monthly budget is actually the rock that can weigh you down in debt for a lifetime. Top 5 Credit Misconceptions We have all heard the rumors?from neighbors, relatives or friends. There are a wide variety of myths floating around about what you should and shouldn't do to improve your credit reports and credit scores. Credit Counseling: Could it Work for Me? In the face of financial hardship, many seeking a responsible solution turn to credit counseling. Credit counseling is, all too often, the last stop before bankruptcy. Save Money and Lower your Payments by Improving or Repairing Your Credit Having a better credit score not only represents easier access to money from lending institutions, but more importantly represents instant money in your pocket.This probably sounds like something obvious for most of people, but it isn't until you start thinking in terms of real examples and real dollars that most of us start to understand the magnitude of the benefits associated with a good credit score. Credit Reports: Find out why you have been refused Credit. You may already have 2 or more credit cards in your purse or wallet and you have just applied for a third and been declined. This can be very frustrating considering you pay off your other credit cards regularly and you are continually having your credit limit raised. Credit Report Secrets: Do You Know What They Reveal? If you've ever applied for a credit card or loan, you've probably had your credit report reviewed by the lender. Your credit report has a huge impact on your financial future, so it's well worth your time to be sure that you understand what your credit report says about you. Credit Report - Watch Out for Parking Tickets The economic downturn of the last five years has affected millions of Americans, but it has also affected the budgets of states, cities and counties. With limited tax dollars with which to work, various government entities have had to try to stretch their budgets to allow them to continue to function. 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. Bankruptcy Myths Busted The average American knows very little about bankruptcy. Most people probably are aware of bankruptcy's ability to dissolve debt and give the debtor a fresh start. Clean Credit Report: Easily Raise Your Credit Score 100 points Clean Credit Reports, your credit report contains information about where you work, live and how you pay your bills (On time or not). It also may show whether you've been sued, arrested or have filed for bankruptcy with in the last 10 years. Low Interest Credit Cards: A Thing of the Past? With interest rates rising, low or zero percent credit cards may soon become a thing of the past. However, the wise shopper can still secure a low rate by carefully shopping around. Applying for Credit Cards Online In the olden days, about 10 years ago, before the internet, consumers would have to fill in applications for credit cards, loans, mortgages and so on by hand. It's hard to believe now, but this lengthy process was the norm, with requests for extra documentation and references going backwards and forwards, until finally the application was accepted or rejected.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2008 |
