Comments on: Credit Cards Around The College Campus

By: Candy Dish: Mackenzie Phillips Has a Dirty Secret : College Candy

Candy Dish: Mackenzie Phillips Has a Dirty Secret : College Candy — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:01:35 +0000

[...] And it is really, really gross. [...]

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:11:33 +0000

Meh. I’m of the opinion that low-limit credit cards to students are probably a good thing. I learned about not carrying a balance when my limit was $1k. Way better to learn it then than later in life when my income would justify an introductory limit of $5k-$10k.

Credit cards are an important part of how our economy functions. It’s difficult to participate in the online economy without one. The rewards are also awesome. Maybe it’s changed, but when I was in school they were mostly offering the same cards I’d get now – cash back or travel rewards cards – to students. I’ve done well over the years taking advantage of those benefits.

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:22:36 +0000

I am inherently a sucker for free stuff. Unfortunately, the “free” tshirt I got for signing up for a Contiki Visa card about 15 years ago bit me in the end. I had about 14 credit cards by the end of my college career. There were visa and master cards, and many many store cards. Oh – you mean I can save 15% today!?!?!?! Oh – and I can cancel the card when it arrives in the mail? Sure. You say you will cut up the card or cancel it when it comes. But there it sits all shiny and new and you place it in your wallet. You definitely will NOT use it on your next trip to the Limited. But there you are in the Limited… and there are ‘perks’ for cardholders… but you have to use your card to get those perks. So you use the card and then you’re stuck making $7 an hour and can barely fill your gas tank and you let a $45 charge for a pair of jeans sit on your Limited card and you only pay the minimum pmt of $10 that month and it continues to accrue interest. And so on and so on times 14 for each card.
Listen folks, don’t do it! Pay cash. You’re already going to likely have student loan debt. You don’t want to graduate and immediately have to go into consumer credit counseling, like I did. I learned my lesson – but my credit was not so great for quite some time.
If you must have a credit card, get one from your local credit union where interest rates will probably be lower and you know you can talk to a regular person if necessary.

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:33:51 +0000

@Wilhelm That’s how I use my credit card. I also use it to pay for group trips and monthly fixed costs. With a cash back rewards card it certainly feels good to receive some money at the end of the year on top of building my credit rating.

By: Wilhelm Scream

Wilhelm Scream — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:58:09 +0000

I applied for my first credit card today, from my bank… two weeks before I start uni. Surely the best way to avoid such things is to get a decent one before you go so you can just say “No thanks, I’ve already got one?” I’m only planning to use mine for small regular purchases anyway, to build up my credit score.

By: Friday Linkfest: Busy Week Edition

Friday Linkfest: Busy Week Edition — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:02:25 +0000

[...] Credit Cards Around the College Campus – Studenomics (wish I would have seen this advice before I started college!) [...]

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:07:00 +0000

I went back to speak with one of the reps today. Nothing substantial just the usual sales tactics. The only difference is that they had school shirts today as a free gift.

I have friends that sign up for credit cards just to receive the free gift. Once the card comes in the mail they cancel it. Personally I don’t want to put up with all of that hassle for a gift.

By: Lynnae

Lynnae — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:18:31 +0000

I sure wish I had seen this advice before I went to college. I applied for my first credit card on campus, my first week of school. In return, I got a UCSD coffee mug.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:21:20 +0000

The stupid giveaways they have for frisbees, tshirts and others are not worth it and should not even be thought of by students. Only get a CC if you know you can pay it off in the end and are responsible with it.