What is the best kind of credit card for a college student to have?
May 31, 2009 in
Credit
iarechigz
I know nothing about credit, interest rates, payments, etc. Can somebody reccomend a credit card that would suit a college student, and give me the jist of establishing good credit? Also, what should I look for when making my final decision? What is important to know?
I know nothing about credit, interest rates, payments, etc. Can somebody reccomend a credit card that would suit a college student, and give me the jist of establishing good credit? Also, what should I look for when making my final decision? What is important to know?
Thanks so much!!
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9 comments
Erica B on June 2, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Basically, any kind of credit card you get may or may not get you into trouble. I got into a lot of trouble when I was a college student with new credit, and several of my friends had to file bankruptcy…so be careful when you get cards. It’s not the type of cards you get, it’s what you buy with them. If you spend too much, you’ll get your butt kicked by the companies.
Now with that warning aside, you can get any kind of credit cards as a college student. You have no credit history, so you will most likely get rates from 14% and up. The best cards to get are ones that offer you points or miles for your purchases. That way, you get something back for what you buy. And if you can help it, try not to get more than $1,000 of credit at a time (unless you are buying a car or a house), that way you can easily make the payments even while you are in school.
Now as far as which cards, I highly recommend Citibank’s Points card. You get extra points for buying gas and groceries, and you can use the points for travel, electronics, gift cards, etc. This especially comes in handy at Christmas time when you want to buy gifts but don’t want to spend money. Or if you want to take that last minute trip to Europe that you really can’t afford.
Hope this helps.
trumpetsrock184 on June 4, 2009 at 7:57 am
American Express has several kinds of cards designed specifically for students that give you money back when you spend, the interest rate is about 11% which is really low. You can find out the student cards by going to americanexpress.com or calling their new accounts number on the website.
LB on June 5, 2009 at 7:02 am
bankrate.com lists credit cards and interest rates and the rewards and stuff.
The most important thing about establishing good credit is to always pay on time every time and if you spend more than you can reasonably pay back, you will have a problem.
Let’s say you need a tv. You want to spend 300 bucks on a tv but you don’t have the cash. You put it on a credit card which charges 15% interest. Your first bill will come and it will reflect the 300 that you spent, it will tell you the due date of your payment and it will tell you what the minimum payment is. The minimum on a 300 dollar purchase is probably around 10.00. But if you just pay the minimum, you’ll be paying that balance off for over 3 years and you would have spent about $72 in interest. And that’s if you don’t charge anything else during those 3 years. If instead of the minimum, you paid 50/month, you’ll pay it off in 7 months and pay about $10 in interest.
I’m just going into so much detail because you say you know nothing about it. But here’s the other thing. If you’re ever late on a payment- I mean, EVER, (even a day late) they jack up your interest rate and they charge you a late fee which they add to your balance, so it’s crucial that you ALWAYS pay on time.
Does that help at all?
robert w on June 5, 2009 at 11:06 am
Iarechigz,
thanks for the giggles.
it is nice to know colleges do not teach enough.
your best bet is CASH.
credit works this way –
u pay for something say 100$ at counter , in truth u pay 125 -150$ in total payments. can u say slave?
if u need more money -work that is how it has been done b4.
suggest u do study daveramsey.com to learn what the credit slave industry prays u never ever learn- how to own ur cash.
did u know some 20-30% of graduating college students file bankruptcy in five yrs ?
#1 cause credit slave cards. not student loans.
learn b4 u sign away ur life.
moviegoer_j on June 6, 2009 at 7:11 am
Here’s the best strategy for using credit cards and building your credit:
1. Get a rewards credit card that will pay you well for your normal spending (what you’d spend your cash on even if you didn’t have a credit card). A couple of the better student rewards cards are the Citi mtvU and Citi Driver’s Edge for Students cards (see below for more advice).
2. Funnel most/all of your normal spending through your credit card(s)
3. Pay your balance in full every every month
That way you will:
1. Build your credit quickly
2. Avoid interest
3. Earn rewards
To quickly see which student rewards credit card will pay you the most for your normal spending, you can use this rewards calculator:
david a on June 8, 2009 at 12:03 pm
you might want to go here to compare them, pick one that is right for u
brady ewart on June 9, 2009 at 4:38 am
Discover® Student Clear Cards
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Get more information about it at:
annazzz1966 on June 12, 2009 at 2:09 am
None. If you have no job and are only a student, do not get a credit card. If you are working then, O.K. – apply for the credit cards with the lowest overall interest rates. APR.
a1_footer on June 13, 2009 at 11:41 am
I think the best credit for a college student is a secured credit card. This way it requires responsibility on your own behalf the whole credit game is dangerous and should be used very wisely.
I would recommend a not -for -profit type like a credit union – see if you have a relative that has a credit union. They can be in my opinion better.