Does a college student need a credit card? Better yet, should a college student apply for a credit card?

We all know that new credit card laws have made it more difficult for college students to obtain a student credit card. Now college students (and anyone that signs for them) need to think twice before getting that first credit.

There are many responsible credit card usage tips that college students can follow. On the flip side, there are also many college students that will fall victim to the credit card debt trap at an early age.

The question that I often receive in some shape or form is- should a college student have a credit card?

My answer is simple- all college students should have a credit card.

Before a mob of parents runs after me with blazing torches, allow me to explain myself.

Benefits of a Credit Card For College Students:

1. Build your credit rating.
When you make your first major purchase, whether it be a car or home, you will realize that one thing is very important- your credit score. This number makes a world of a difference. Before you do anything else you need to read about the importance of a credit rating.

The earlier you get a credit card the early you can build your credit rating. Yes I do realize the flip side here but please bare with me and continue reading for now.

Your credit rating becomes very important as you graduate from college and progress through your 20s. If you begin building up your credit at an early age you’ll notice some big wins.

2. Reap the benefits of a high credit score in your adult years.
A high credit score can save you a boatload of money over the period of a loan. A high credit score means that you have good credit. Good credit means that lenders feel it’s less of a risk to loan you money. Since it’s less risky to loan you money, you can receive a lower rate on major purchases when they happen, and believe me they will happen.

A lower rate may not seem like a big deal now, but trust me it will be one day. Unless you buy your first new car or first home with 100% cash, you’re likely going to have to apply for a loan. You don’t want to be in your 30s kicking yourself in the butt for messing up your credit or for having no credit.

3. Get used to a credit card.
Chances are very high that you’re going to have to deal with a credit card for the rest of your life. There are adults that refuse to possess a credit card or are vehemently against credit cards (see: Adam Baker or Matt Jabs), but it’s fairly rare to not have a credit card.

Cutting up your credit cards is too simple and it won’t solve the problem. You should get into the habit of using a credit card and paying it off monthly ASAP.

Okay now let’s go a bit further- what if you think the reasons for having a credit card are decent but you’re still not fully convinced on student credit cards? A college student should only have a credit card under the following conditions:

Student Credit Card Conditions:

1. It’s a student credit card with a minuscule limit.
A couple of hundred bucks to 0 max! Until you’ve mastered your financial situation completely you shouldn’t accept anything over 0. A high amount of credit available to you can be very beneficial, but it can also ruin you financially if you don’t control yourself. All college students should start off with the lowest limit possible and not increase it until income grows. On top of that, it’s also becoming more difficult for college students to get more than 0 worth of credit.

2. The student credit card is used for reoccurring monthly expenses.
I’ve automated my credit card to pay for my gym membership, cell phone bill, and a few online subscriptions (I swear it’s not porn!). A simple way to build your credit without buying useless junk is to automate reoccurring monthly expenses to your credit card. We all have monthly expenses. So why not simplify your financial situation and automate your monthly expenses with your credit card?

3. The credit card is only used in emergencies.
Yes I know that some will view an “emergency” as seeing a pair of jeans on sale at Banana Republic. This is where the 0 limit comes into play. Even if you lose control and splurge, you won’t go bankrupt because of it. You’ll probably have to suck it up and get an extra job to pay the credit card off, but you won’t destroy your finances.

A credit card is also extremely critical in real emergencies. Shit will happen in life. There will be times when you need money to pay your way out of trouble. Whether it be paying for a tow truck while stuck on the side of the road in the winter to having your flight delayed. Hopefully this sort of thing doesn’t happen to you. But if it does you can use your credit card and then pay it off with your emergency fund money when you get home

For the millions of consumers in the UK with bad credit and no credit, getting approved for a major credit card takes a tremendous amount of effort and time. Unfortunately, establishing credit is as equally challenging as re-establishing or rebuilding credit. Creditors and credit card companies consider both types of people as risky applicants, and in these challenging times, credit card companies are now more than ever checking the applicants credit worthiness.  Thus, they are less eager to extend a line of credit. However, there are ways to get around these problems. Credit cards designed to build and re-build credit are intended to make it easier for some to obtain credit.  Barclaycard and Vanquis both have credit cards designed to help.

The Importance of Establishing a Good Credit History
Even with poor credit, you will be able to finance many purchases such as a home or vehicle. However, good credit has certain advantages. Those with a high credit score receive prime rates on home loans and auto loans. For some, low rates may not be a huge deal. Yet, low interest rates on loans can potentially save you hundreds each month. Moreover, having good credit unlocks the door to better financing alternatives.

Similarities Between Having No Credit and Bad Credit
Unfair as it may be, some lenders group those with no credit and individuals with poor credit into the same category. This makes it harder for young people and those trying to establish credit. Individuals with poor credit made certain mistakes that justify a lender’s reluctance. On the other hand, those with no credit history have zero credit mistakes. So, why do some lenders deny credit to those with no credit history? In a nutshell, before granting a credit card or loan, lenders will review credit reports to examine past relationships with other creditors. It’s a way to determine an applicant’s likelihood of repaying funds. If you have no credit history, lenders become uncertain. Instead of taking a gamble, they rather deny an application.

Getting Approved for a Bad Credit Credit Card
Getting approved for a bad credit credit card is easy. The tricky part is finding a lender that specializes in this sort of credit. Use the internet to your advantage. Many bad credit credit card lenders offer online applications and instant approvals. If you are hoping to build a good credit history, this is one of the easiest approaches. There are two types of bad credit credit cards. If you are approved for an unsecured card, you may receive an initial low credit limit. However, as you maintain regular payments, the creditor may gradually increase the spending limit. With a secured credit card, applicants must open a saving account with the lender. In the event that you decide to stop making payments, this account serves as collateral.

Credit Scores and Rebuilding your Credit History
A credit score reflects credit payment patterns over time, with more emphasis on recent information. Ways to improve a credit score generally include the following:
. Pay your bills on time. Delinquent payments and collections can have a major negative impact on a credit score.
. Keep balances low on credit cards and other “revolving credit.” High outstanding debt can affect a credit score.
. Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Don’t open accounts just to have a better credit mix. It probably won’t improve your credit score.
. Pay off debt rather than moving it around. Also, don’t close unused cards as a short-term strategy to improve your credit score. Owing the same amount but having fewer open accounts may lower your credit score.

Review your Experian credit score regularly so you know what is being reported. It won’t affect your credit score to request and check your own. Get immediate online access to your Experian credit report and credit score. Order now!

Items that Improve Credit Scores
Paying your bills on time is the single most important contributor to a good credit score. Even if the debt you owe is a small amount, it is crucial that you make payments on time. In addition, you should minimize outstanding debt, avoid overextending yourself and refrain from applying for credit needlessly. Applications for credit show up as inquiries on your credit report, indicating to lenders that you may be taking on new debt. It may be to your advantage to use the credit you already have to prove your ongoing ability to manage credit responsibly.

If you do have negative information on your credit report, such as late payments, a public record item (e.g., bankruptcy) or too many inquiries, you may want to pay your bills and wait. Time is your ally in improving your credit scores. There is no quick fix for bad credit scores. One common question that many consumers have regarding their credit score involves understanding how very specific actions will affect it. For example, someone might ask if closing two of his or her revolving accounts would improve his or her credit score. While this question may appear to be easy to answer, there are many factors to consider. Credit scores are based entirely on the information found on an individual’s credit scores. Any change to the credit report could affect the individual’s credit score. Simply closing two accounts not only lowers the number of open revolving accounts (which generally will improve credit scores), but it also decreases the total amount of available credit. That results in a higher utilization rate, also called the balance-to-limit ratio (which generally lowers scores).

As you can see, one seemingly simple change actually affects many items on the credit report. Therefore, it is impossible to provide a completely accurate assessment of how one specific action will affect a person’s credit score. This is why the credit risk factors provided with your score are important. They identify what elements from your credit history are having the greatest impact so that you can take appropriate action.

How Long Does It Take to Rebuild a Credit Score?
Actually, you don’t rebuild the credit score. You rebuild your credit history, which then is reflected by your credit score. The length of time to rebuild your credit history after a negative change depends on the reasons behind the change. Most negative changes in credit scores are due to the addition of a negative element to your credit report, such as a delinquency or collection account. These new elements will continue to affect your credit scores until they reach a certain age. Delinquencies remain on your credit report for seven years. Most public record items remain on your credit report for seven years, although some bankruptcies may remain for 10 years and unpaid tax liens remain for 15 years. Inquiries remain on your report for two years.

Get all the credit help you need at the UK Credit Card Centre

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