Good Advice About College Students And Credit Card Debt
College is the first taste of the real world that young people get while still being protected by something that looks out for them. Most young people move away to college and even though they are still being funded by mom and dad they are given the feeling of what it is like, for the first time, to not answer to someone for everything they do. That first feeling of independence is great but also very intimidating. The allure of freedom is strong and soon some college students are faced with the temptation to get a credit card. Credit card companies offer credit cards to jobless college students because they are easy targets but you can help your child out with the battle of college students and credit card debt by heading the whole thing off before it gets out of control. If a student does not understand the explosive relationship between college students and credit card debt then they may make decisions that could follow them for many years into their adult lives.
The first angle to control college students and credit card debt is education. Talk with your student and explain how the mixture of college students and credit card debt can get out of control but most importantly explain to them what happens when you ruin your credit at a very young age. It can follow you for years and can even affect your ability to get your first real apartment or buy your first home. That relationship between college students and credit card debt can get so out of hand that they could be paying for it into their 30's and if they understand that then maybe you can help them avoid it.
Give Them A Helping Hand
A college student always needs access to funds and one way you can help offset the temptation of college students and credit card debt is to give your college student a credit card with a limit you can handle and tell them this is all the credit card they need. Always make sure there are funds available to them on the credit card and this way you not only help them have the funds available but you can monitor their spending with the monthly bill.
All you can do is prepare them with some support and education. If they choose to do their own thing there really isn't anything you can do about it. But at least you can feel better knowing you tried everything a parent can do to help out with college students and credit card debt.
