Advantages and Disadvantages

Credit is a contract based on your promise to pay in the future for goods and services you receive today. The advantages of credit cards are significant, and "plastic" can be an important resource in your money management plan. Credit cards offer protection against theft of your cash. You can purchase the products and services you need when you need them, even if you do not have the cash in your pocket. Credit cards are very helpful in emergencies, and many parents actually prefer that their students carry a credit card to pay for such essentials as gas, repairs and towing. They feel more comfortable knowing that their young adults have the to ability to take care of any emergency quickly with a credit card. Also, you can become a better money manager as you learn to use credit responsibly.

There are disadvantages, however, to using credit. When you carry a credit card, it is easy to buy beyond your means, to spend so much that you cannot meet the bill when it is due. When you carry a credit card, it is very easy to buy on impulse and forget you are spending future income, money that you do not yet have (and may not have in time). Moreover, if you only pay the minimum balance each month, you may be surprised to find out how many years it will take to take to pay off the balance. Interest charges really add up to increase significantly the bottom line of the total of what you must pay. Also, it is rarely wise to buy something that will wear out before you finish paying for it, such as a vacation or a used bicycle.

Working Teenagers and Students

In order to get a credit card in their own name, students must be 18 years old and have an income. According to U.S. News & World Report, July 1, 1996, approximately one half of all 16 to 19 year olds have part-time jobs. They spend or influence their families to spend $109 billion for consumer purchases such as, clothes, health and beauty products, snack or fast foods, videos, computers and computer software. The teen market continues to grow as the baby boomer's children become adolescents. Students are advertising targets for manufacturers, so it is important that you understand how to use credit wisely, particularly credit cards.

How To Obtain A Credit Card

If you have not established credit, several options can help you obtain a credit card:

• Have a parent or legal guardian arrange for you to have a supplemental card. Your card will be billed to their credit card account.  
• Have a parent or legal guardian cosign your credit card application. If you are unable to pay the monthly bill, then your parents must assume responsibility for the repayment.  
• Open a saving and/or checking account at a bank or credit union and agree to maintain one month's credit limit in a savings account. Then if you do not pay your monthly payment, the bank will remove the money from your account.

Types Of Credit And Credit Cards

Two basic types of credit are secured and unsecured. Secured credit means that the product you purchased, such as a car, appliance or furniture, serves as collateral to guarantee the debt. If you do not make a payment, the creditor can legally take possession of the product.

Unsecured credit is based on your promise and signature to repay the debt without committing your savings or other collateral as a guarantee. Credit cards can be either secured or unsecured. Most credit cards are unsecured.

Types of credit cards:

• Travel and Entertainment cards, such as American Express or Diner's Club. They are usually not available to students because they are used by businesses and consumers for travel and entertainment expenses and have an annual fee.  
• Bank cards, such as MasterCard, Visa, Discover and Optima. These credit cards are sponsored by individual banks and are considered all purpose cards since they can be used to pay for a variety of goods and services. Each bank decides credit limits, annual fees, terms and conditions.  
• Company or Retail Store cards, such as Sears, J.C. Penney, Shell or Mobil. These cards are used in the retail store or gas station and have no annual fee. They may have a higher interest rate than a bank card and the terms and conditions of these cards vary widely.

Credit Record

The way you use credit will effect your credit history and a negative credit history is a serious liability. Your credit history is maintained by credit bureaus in the form of a credit report. This credit report is a record of your credit use. Your credit history will be reviewed by employers, insurance companies, apartment managers and businesses for consumer products, such as cars or furniture, and your record follows you wherever you go. The credit reporting system works so efficiently that creditors can obtain information on any consumer that uses credit within minutes.

Maintaining a positive credit history is an important responsibility. The responsibilities of credit start as soon as you receive, sign and use a credit card. It is important to know what terms and conditions you have agreed to and the interest charges that will be added to your bill, if you cannot pay the balance each month.

Choosing A Credit Card

Credit card companies will actively seek you as a credit card user as soon as you are 18 years old. They know that consumers tend to stick with their first credit card and college students have good employment prospects. It is not as simple as choosing a card with the best bonus or rebate. You need to carefully evaluate all the terms and conditions for each card you are considering, especially if you know that sometimes you will not be able to pay the full balance. It is smart to pay the least amount of interest.

Before you select a credit card, it helps if you have a budget that identifies your income and expenses. A mini-lesson titled, A College Student Budget, can help you design a personal budget. Also, you need to understand who will be responsible for your credit card bills, you or your parents. Maybe your parents will be responsible for certain purchases, such as books, clothes and food, and you will have to pay the rest of the credit card bill. With this information, you should be able to determine how much you can spend each month with a credit card.

Costs of Credit

The credit application or contract will disclose the terms and conditions for the credit card use. The following terms and conditions will effect the total cost of credit:

Calculation of the Finance Charge

Because there can be a significant difference in the total amount of finance charges among various cards, it is important to know how the interest rate is calculated. The credit card company will use one of three methods:

Average Daily Balance Method

This is the most commonly used method. You are given credit for your payment from the day the credit card issuer receives it and the interest in calculated on the basis of the average amount owed during the previous month.

Adjusted Balance Method

This method is the most beneficial to the consumer and produces the lowest finance charges. The balance is calculated by subtracting the payments and any credits from the balance you owe at the end of the previous billing period.

Previous Balance Method

This is the most expensive method. The finance charge is calculated on the balance owed at the end of the previous billing cycle. Payments, credits and new purchases made in the current billing cycle are not included.

As you evaluate new credit card offers, look for the best deal for your current situation. As your financial circumstances improve, you may qualify for more favorable rates.

Credit Card Evaluation

The following factors should be considered to help you select the best credit card:

• The credit card interest rate -- look for a low interest rate but remember that the interest rate is not fixed.  
• The balance calculation method - helps you determine the total cost of credit.  
• All charges and costs - some companies are adding other fees, such as late payment fees if your payment arrives after the due date or transaction fees every time you use the card. Also grace periods are shrinking with some cards. Companies generally start the grace period at the time the purchase is posted to your account. However with some cards, the grace period can start on the day of purchase.  
• Services and features available - such as rebates, cash-back incentives or extended warranties. These features should also be evaluated in terms of the extra credit costs to you.

Read each credit contract carefully, be sure you understand all the terms, costs and conditions. The lender will give you a credit limit. However, it is more important for you to look at your finances and decide for yourself what an appropriate credit limit would be. Decide how many and what type of credit cards would best suit you needs.

Credit Availability

Your credit availability will depend on the following considerations:

• Age. You must be 18 to obtain a credit card (unless you have a cosigner).  
• Income. You must have an income or assets.  
• Amount. The amount must be realistic, based on your income and any credit you already have.  
• Purpose. It should be for a good reason, such as a student loan.

Credit Card Responsibilities

With your first purchase on a credit card, you have entered into a legal agreement with the credit card company. You then must understand and abide by the terms and conditions of the agreement. Some other responsibilities are:

• keep your cards with you or in a safe place  
• do not give your credit card number to friends  
• before signing receipts, verify for accuracy  
• destroy all carbon copies  
• keep all receipts to check against the billing statement  
• inform the credit card company immediately if you lose your credit card  
• become familiar with the consumer credit laws that protect you. A mini-lesson titled Women and Credit Laws will give you information about the key provisions.

Most students, whether high school or college, feel that they are capable of managing their own lives. You want to be independent of your parents. To do this you must demonstrate that you can be a responsible money manager. Using a credit card can either increase or decrease your spending power, so if you learn how to plan your credit use then you will maximize your spending power. While in college, you may want to obtain at least one credit card so that you can begin to establish a credit history and you have a way to cover most emergencies. As you show responsible use, you will establish a positive credit history and can use credit as an effective tool rather than an expensive financial trap.