Credit cards can be invaluable tools for college students. Using a credit card is more convenient than cash, and may help a young adult build credit that will be useful throughout his adult life. However, before a student applies for a credit card, he needs to know how credit works and the consequences associated with the misuse of a credit card. Credit can be very helpful, but may also be dangerous if one does not use it properly.
Many students apply for a credit card as a way to have extra spending money, without realizing that the money has to be repaid. Students should have an income in order to repay their credit card purchases. Unfortunately, many students do not pay off their cards, and therefore incur large amounts of debt. Student credit cards are more likely to have higher interest rates than others’ cards due to the lower credit scores students usually have. The combination of the initial debt and high interest rates coupled with late fees and the deterioration of one’s credit score can initiate a seemingly perpetual cycle of debt early in a young adult’s life.
Another mistake many students make is to not evaluate their financial options well. In 2008, 30% of students used their credit cards to pay for educational expenses with the average cumulative amount charged for direct educational expenses being $2,200 (SallieMae). Students are choosing to put educational expenses on credit cards with interest rates upwards of 16%, (Silver-Greenberg) instead of taking out a student loan with much lower rates and better payment terms (SallieMae).
Students need to be aware of the financial machine formed by the partnership between colleges and credit card companies. Michigan State University has an $8.4 million con...
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... lifestyles of our favorite celebrities and characters on television, and we have to realize that it is nearly impossible for a normal person, let alone a college student, to live so extravagantly. People cannot let their measure of success be so materialistic. “While driving a new car or sporting the latest fashions might be more visible to others, having no financial debt is a more accurate measure of success,” (Rodriguez).
Credit cards are not necessarily evil objects that destroy the lives of students. In fact, college students tend to be more responsible than older adults with credit cards (Norvilitis). The dangers of credit card use simply needs to be understood, similar to the dangers of driving a car--harm is not imminent, but the risk still exists. If the card is used properly and responsibly, credit can be a beneficial and convenient means of tender.
Many people would agree that our country’s young adults have and continue to incur a lifetime of debt by enrolling in college. It’s become an almost acceptable understanding that if you plan to attend college, you might as well expect to graduate with an enormous amount of debt. Robin Wilson, a reporter for the “Chronicle of Higher Education,” and author of “A Lifetime of Student Debt? Not Likely” suggests student loans are very real and can be life altering.
An education is one of the most important tools a person can acquire. It gives them the skills and abilities to obtain a job, earn a wage, and then use that wage to better their lives and the lives of their loved ones. However, due to the seemingly exponential increase in the costs of obtaining a college degree, students are either being driven away entirely from earning a degree or taking out student loans which cripple their financial prospects well after graduation. Without question, the increasing national student loan debt is one of the most pressing economic issues the United States is dealing with, as students who are debt ridden are not able to consume and invest in the economy. Therefore, many politicians and students are calling on the government to forgive their student loan debts so that through their spending the slowly recovering economy can finally return to its pre-2008 strength.
The debt associated with higher education is one of the biggest factors of deterrence for most people who are interested in college, and it is not at all surprising. 71 % of college seniors who graduated last year had student loan debt, and the average debt for a college student with a four-year degree is $29,400.This number has gone up an average of 6 % each year. Keep in mind that this is just the average debt, and there are students who are in debt upwards of $30,000 dollars (projectonstudentdebt.org). Now in order to understand why the debt is so high it is best to break down the different costs of higher education. The first and most important of which is tuition.
Credit card debt is one of this nation’s leading internal problems. When credit was first introduced, and up until around the late 1970’s, the standards for getting a credit card were very high. The bar got lowered and lowered to where, eventually, an 18 year-old college student with almost no income and nothing to base a credit score on previously could obtain a credit card (much like myself). The national credit card debt for families residing in the United States alone is in the trillions (Maxed Out). The average American family has around $9,000 in debt, and pays around $1,3000 a year on interest payments (Maxed Out). Many people have the concern today that these interest rates and fees are skyrocketing; and many do not understand why. Most of these people have to try to avoid harassing collecting agents from different agencies, which takes an emotional and psychological toll on them. While a lot of the newly recognized “risky” people (those with a doubted ability to make sufficient payments) are actually older people who have been customers of certain companies for decades, the credit card companies are actually consciously targeting a different, much more vulnerable group of people: college students. James Scurlock produced a documentary called Maxed Out on this growing problem, in which Senator Jack Reed of (Democrat) of Rhode Island emphasizes the targeting of college students in the Consumer Credit Hearings of 2005
We now live in a society where kids start their adult lives “in the red”, as their debt exceeds their income. (Draut, 2005) 60 years ago this wasn’t the case, as told by Studs Terkel in Hard Times-An Oral History of The Great Depression, “I had no idea how long $30 would last, but it sure would have to go a long way because I had nothing else. The semester fee was $22, so that left me $8 to go.” (Turkel, 1970) Imagine that! 60 years ago tuition was $22 dollars a semester! Furthermore, 45% of adults under 35 state they find themselves resorting to credit card use for basic living expenses like rent, groceries and utilities, (Draut, 2005) adding to their mounting debt. This use of credit puts them into an entirely different category of indebtedness: survival debt. (Draut, 2005) Imagine being forced to borrow to live! (Draut, 2005) If a car breaks down or someone gets sick, the only option available is using a credit card. (Draut,
In the Spring of 1949, Alfred Bloomingdale, Frank McNamara, and Ralph Snyder came up with a new plan for a modern type of credit card. While out to lunch one day in New York, the President of the New York Credit Card Company Frank McNamara had forgotten his wallet at home (Evans 53) . He had a thriving business yet credit cards at the time were only given to selected people. The first modern credit cards was introduced by Diners Club Inc. because of this. The modern day credit card is a small, plastic, rectangle, more than three inches. There is an account number and a name that is embroidered on the front. The first credit card did not look much like what credit cards look today. They were made out of paper not plastic, and they weren’t cards they were a lot like a tiny booklet that had all the same information the modern day credit card has now(Weiss 38). The modern day credit card can carry up to a $200 line of credit meaning you can buy anything you want at that certain time and pay it back at a later date such as months or a year after that time. Some companies require you to pay the full amount of your charge on the card at once, but some allow you to pay in small amounts. In order to apply for a credit card you must be at least eighteen years of age and if you are not you must have an adult sign the paperwork to apply for one. Prior ...
As of 2016, American students have accrued a massive 1.3 trillion in student loan debt. Just 10 years ago, the nation’s balance was only $447 billion (Clements). This ever-present cumulative burden has caused many post graduate Americans to delay important life events such as marriage, homeownership and children because of this substantial encumbrance (Clements). The debt will only continue to grow with neglect, so the most effective action to take would be eliminating the cost altogether.
For this assignment I attended a credit card workshop. I decided to attend the “know your credit score” workshop for class because I wanted to get a better understanding of how credit works. Currently, I do not own a credit card and I am not too familiar with how the process of getting one and maintaining a good credit score works. Since I will be graduating this coming June and credit card companies will be contracting me soon after, I felt as though it would be to my best interest to start building a basic knowledge of how credit cards work. Additionally, I felt this workshop was important to attend because it would give me insight in how to maintain a good credit score and avoid some of the common mistake the people make with their credit cards. Lastly, since ones credit score is the basis of how they are judged of their reliability to payback loans and other general purchases I felt as though this would be a very informative and helpful workshop to attend.
My best friend from my childhood is a marketing agent’s dream. Constantly duped and deceived by flashy ads and predatory marketing, this kid will buy anything - usuall on credit. At last check, my friend had maxed out 4 credit cards to the tune of over $30,000. Very rarely did the money go for something necessary, like accommodation or food, but usually was spent on a multitude of gadgets, toys, and other assorted ‘guy-stuff.’ CDs, a subwoofer, X-boxes and PlayStations, new rims and tires…he even whipped out the plastic to cover the $5,000 for his girlfriend’s new boobs! In my humble opinion, this was probably one of his wiser purchases, but still highlights the fact that my friend has a serious problem managing his finances. Unfortunately, my friend is not alone, but is one of thousands of unassuming college students trapped by credit card debt.
The reason there is a credit score is to show how reliable a person can be on paying their bills on time. There is a lot more behind the scenes then just numbers. These numbers actually build on the character of the person that is why your information is used by your employer, a lender, and insurance company. The credit card company is in business to make money you have the power in the relationship to use the credit card to your advantage.
Students do not have the education needed to use credit cards responsibly. Nellie Mae (August 2007) states that 93% percent of students would have liked more information on financial management topics before they started school and want financial management education made available to them now. This is proof that students crave the education before getting into debt. Allowing credit companies to market their product on campus is too much of a temptation ...
There are numerous benefits and a numerous cons associated with every decision that anyone ever makes. Benefits Financially, credit cards can be good for people. Firstly, there is no way to survive in today’s market without credit. It’s sad for some people because you can’t buy anything without credit and you can’t get credit without buying anything. The issue here for a lot of people is it seems like a revolving
Are they tempting fate by inviting the potential for problems? After all, one unexpected expense, and the credit card user won’t clear his/her balance…and before you know it…credit card debt.
If we don 't have credit cards, we can’t build our credit history. If we don 't have a credit history, we aren 't allowed to buy cars or houses with low monthly payments. Having credit cards is a cycle in life because without one thing, we can 't have the other. When people have credit cards they have to use them. It doesn 't help that banks offer many credit cards to people, ending in high debt. Banks also encourage low monthly payments. If people pay low monthly payments, they will never end up paying their credit card debt off. They will probably end up paying for the objects they bought, two or three times. People aren 't forced to pay high monthly payments in order for it to take longer to pay the card off. If it takes longer for a person to pay a credit card debt, the credit card companies will be making a lot of money. I can definitely say I have experienced this because I am always offered to get a credit card. There are many stores that carry their own credit cards, and offer them for their customers. Offers are tempting and they can add to a future of credit card debt.
The introduction of the credit card first came around while the economy was booming in the early 1950’s. American consumers were in buy mode and the credit card was a genius idea to let people buy now and pay later. At first look this idea seemed great but what looks and sounds great does not always mean that it is going to be great overall. Over the years credit agencies have released thousands of credit cards with several questionable polices and high interest rates. “Any given American family in the present day possesses an average of eight credit cards with about 15,000 dollars of debt”(Canner 8). Many consumers have become addicted to wasteful cyclic consumption and living beyond their income due to the ownership of credit cards. The invention and continued implementation of credit cards into the American economic and social systems appears to be the cause of the struggling economy, the weakened U.S. dollar, the sky rocketing prices of gas and grocery store goods, the all-time highs of American debt, and social deprivation in some regions.