<p>Well, the debit card is easy to get. It is linked to your checking account and money is debited right away. It is a paperless form of checks.</p>
<p>With a credit card you generally get a grace period and also you don't have to pay the entire bill - you can pay minimum in installments. Of course the interest rate on the upaid balance is astronomically high (25-30%). You never come out of that hole. People have gone in to bankruptcy for charging too much. Many college kids have committed sucides for charging too much and not having money to pay.</p>
<p>Bottom line: Unless you have the decipline to use credit card as a debit card - that is buy only the stuff you can afford to pay off, they are not good.</p>
<p>Another catch - you have to have a credit history to get a credit card. You can't have a credit history unless you have a credit card or history of paying back. S got his first student credit card with a limit of $250. The bank will rob him blind if he goes over the limit ($40), is late in paying ($45) or carries a balance (27%).</p>
<p>Also, you being international may not qualify for a credit card.</p>
<p>Best option for you - have a debit card.</p>