<p>kelseyg, sorry, but I have to disagree. If you are responsible with your card, there is no reason not to get one. Don't sign up just for the free stuff, but there are some times to get a card if you know what you're doing. I keep track of my credit balance against what I have in my checking account, and in the 13 months that I've had the card, I've never had a late payment or spent more than what was available in my checking account. I rarely use my debit card anymore, mostly just for withdrawing cash from the ATM.</p>
<p>If you're not mature enough to handle a credit card, don't get one. If you are, consider your options and review the terms before getting one.</p>
<p>If you speak with your parents about getting one to pay for books or something to build up good credit, that's different. Don't sign up for one just to get the free stuff, or to use regularly if you don't need it. You'd think people would know that but apparently they keep signing up!
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<p>I agree that one shouldn’t sign up just to get the free stuff. These are “hard credit inquiries”; they will hurt your credit score. My credit card was pre-approved. Applying for a card you’ve already been approved for doesn’t hurt your credit score.</p>
<p>But, it’s my opinion that everyone should get a credit card.</p>
<p>Contrary to popular belief, a credit card is safer than a debit card. Federal law restricts credit card fraud liability to $50. By contrast, there is no restriction for debit card liability; if you don’t notify your bank within sixty days, your liability could be all the money in your checking account. Some banks offer stronger protection, but you have to ask as it is not federally assured.</p>
<p>One of my close friends’ parents advised him not to activate his credit card, claiming that he was not responsible enough to use it. Ironically, a credit card is safer for him than a debit card because he is financially inept. (He lost his debit card and didn’t notify his bank until two months had already passed. Luckily, nobody used it.)</p>
<p>If you pay your balance in full and before it is due, then it is cheaper to buy with a credit card than with a debit card. Let’s assume that Alice and Bob both have $1,000 in their bank accounts and are going to buy a $100 textbook. Alice pays with a credit card while Bob pays with a debit card. The store will automatically deduct $100 from Bob’s checking account, so he has $900 left. But, Alice will still have $1,000 in her account. She doesn’t have to pay until next month. During this time period, her money earns interest. At the end of the month, she’ll have $1,000 plus interest. She pays her bill in full, leaving her with $900 plus interest.</p>
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What about a debit card? Has anyone had trouble being responsible with one or is it not that hard of a thing to learn?
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You just have to learn to keep track of your spending. Record every single thing you buy with it and keep up with it. Don't spend more than you have. Be really careful with it. Always compare your check register and receipts with your bank statement.</p>
<p>I love having a credit card. Like others mentioned, the fraud protection is much better than a debit card. It is also usually easier to dispute a charge on.</p>
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If you're not mature enough to handle a credit card, don't get one. If you are, consider your options and review the terms before getting one.
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<p>That's essentially what I was trying to say.</p>
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But, it’s my opinion that everyone should get a credit card.
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<p>I think all responsible people would do well to have a credit card. My advice was aimed at college freshmen, whom I maintain do not need a credit card. Unfortunately, most 19 year olds are ridiculously irresponsible with credit cards. How else to explain the absurd level of credit card debt many young people face? Everyone thinks they will be the exception. </p>
<p>IMO, you can wait until after your freshmen year to get one.</p>
<p>I agree with you that responsibility is key. As I wrote, "If you pay your balance in full and before it is due, then it is cheaper to buy with a credit card than with a debit card."</p>
<p>Of course, if you don't pay your balance in full OR pay it late, then it is most certainly not cheaper to buy with a credit card.</p>
<p>Do people here generally agree that credit cards are cheaper than debit cards?</p>
<p>When I think of credit cards, I think of annual charges and the postage for payments by check. Unless you use your credit card for higher sums than most college students would (or should), a few weeks worth of interest does not make up for the inconveniences of writing a check to pay the credit card bill (and the risk of forgetting to write that check on time) imo.</p>
<p>idk, my amex has no annual charges and i pay it online. honestly, only have it to build credit...
that being said; i much prefer to do everything in cash(keeping assets liquid FTW).</p>
<p>this is a little off topic but: can you get birth control at the college's health center? like the ones mentioned where you only need to reapply it every two/three months?</p>
<p>Edit: Nevermind. I found it on the website.</p>
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When I think of credit cards, I think of annual charges and the postage for payments by check. Unless you use your credit card for higher sums than most college students would (or should), a few weeks worth of interest does not make up for the inconveniences of writing a check to pay the credit card bill (and the risk of forgetting to write that check on time) imo.
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<li><p>My credit card has no annual fee. Last year, in terms of credit history, I was like almost every other eighteen-year old; I had no credit history. Yet, I still received a pre-approved offer for a card that has no annual fee.</p></li>
<li><p>I link my checking account to my credit card, which allows me to pay my bills online. I don’t have to write any checks, and I don’t have to use any stamps. I just make sure that I have the money in my checking account and then make a few mouse clicks. Often times, there’s no charge for this service.</p></li>
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<p>I use my credit cards for absolutely everything, and then pay it off after a couple days. This is for a couple reasons.
1) I get points when places accept American Express, and most do now.
2) When I'm really low on money if I put more on my credit card than I can pay off I'm ok. I'm in debt but we're talking $1-$20 here; that debt is gone next paycheck or sooner. If I overdraw my debit card I get hit with a $30 charge and don't know about it till later, meaning I could rack up MORE charges.
3) No annual fee, no paperwork (online bill pay and statements.)
4) Some places wouldn't ship anything to my dorm address when I tried to use my debit card, since it wasn't my primary address. On my credit card I could set up a secondary address. This was the original reason I got my first credit card actually.
5) When I moved back for the summer and had to pay for gas to drive to and from work, while waiting 3 weeks for my first pay check, I had a way to pay for gas. Otherwise I'd have had to beg for money from my parents or something.</p>
<p>So yeah, there are some really good reasons to get a credit card, but if you're going to get it BE. RESPONSIBLE. Don't buy anything you normally wouldn't and pay it off as soon as you can to avoid any interest charges. I have a Student Visa from BOA that I hardly every use because of the $500 limit that I don't want to have to worry about and a Blue from American Express. Not everywhere takes AmEx but when places do I get points (not many but whatever) plus it has a much higher limit on it. And it looks really cool.</p>
<p>edit: Forgot to mention, credit cards are supposed to have better fraud protection too. And if something goes wrong with something you purchased most will fight for you a little bit at least.</p>
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4) Some places wouldn't ship anything to my dorm address when I tried to use my debit card, since it wasn't my primary address. On my credit card I could set up a secondary address. This was the original reason I got my first credit card actually.
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I never even thought about that. Was the problem because you didn't want the billing info sent to your other address? Would it still work if you used your primary address for billing and said to ship it to your dorm as a "gift"?</p>
<p>Discover is accepted by more places and they offer a similar points/cash back plan. They also have some really awesome looking cards that you can get online.</p>
<p>No, I didn't care where the billing went. They just would not ship to anything other than my primary address, and I couldn't change that to my dorm since I didn't have any bills to prove residence. I'd have had to switch it shortly thereafter when I moved back home anyway. The place I was buying from (it was a camera) didn't do gift shipping; they weren't really a very big online store. All it meant was I had to ship it to my house and then wait till I went home again, but I only go home a couple times per semester, so that was annoying enough to get me to sign up for a card.</p>
<p>Yeah, I have AmEx and a Mastercard for when somewhere doesn't take AmEx. Really, the only place I remember not taking it was my school and a couple resturaunts; most places do. And once I spend $2500 I'll get a free Olive Garden dinner! :)</p>
<p>*Wal-Mart is your best friend, get close with it.</p>
<p>*Don't be condescending towards people who you never thought you would hang out with in high school. People look down on "College Cliques"</p>
<p><em>Don't be the </em>**** that blasts music at 4 in the morning...you will become worm food.</p>
<p>*LEARN TO DO LAUNDRY! Also, be considerate when using the laundry machines, other people have to use them too.</p>
<p><em>The freshman 15 is a </em>**...get used to exercising so that all your new clothes fit you for longer than 3 months.</p>
<p>*Talk with your roommate about things if they bother you. Employ a 48 hour rule with them. Also, if you/they have a significant other who will be visiting, make sure that you give that person a full 2 weeks notice as to when they are coming.</p>
<p>*Just have fun! College flies by too fast for you to be cooped up in some room reading books while you masturbate to Jenna Jameson and Titi Boy.</p>
<p>catsushi...do you mean sports teams as in you're going to be on a team (NCAA, not intramurals) or sports teams like making it to all the games? if you're an athlete in any sport or any level, you'll have to manage your time properly.</p>
<p>The athletes at my school have mandatory study hall hours they have to attend every week if they are freshmen or have a low GPA (usually below 2.5ish). They get special tutoring and advising services, and most coaches here are pretty strict about it. I work with the football team (Div 1 school) and the freshmen and new transfers have to attend 12 hours of study hall a week, and others with low GPAs have to attend 8 per week, but that's a team rule and it varies by school.</p>
<p>Yeah I am definitely not going to be a Division 1 swimmer. I have several friends who are doing that, and to me it seems crazy to go to college to do sports and school on the side. I'm swimming Division III.</p>
<p>bzzzt: "Skip the pill. Get a Depo-Provera shot, or a Minera. Birth control you only have to deal with every 3 months to 2 years is GREAT. Still use condoms"</p>
<p>i may be wrong but i think depo-provera decreases bone density (i could be confusing it with some other birth control). if you dont have a problem remembering to take the pill everyday it may be a better choice</p>