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Advising on the
best sourced
assistance
pertaining to college football.
...
College Degrees
College degrees may allow you to earn more money upon
graduation, but for some potential students the high cost of
paying for college keeps them out of the classroom. Many
students are unaware of how to save money on the tuition for
college...
College Poker
Here's a typical day in the midst of my college poker career.
The alarm clock would ring about 3 times before I actually got
up. I would debate whether to attend my 10:30 class or sleep in
some more and get the notes from a fellow classmate....
College Without A High School Diploma - Possible ?
Don’t give up your dream of enrolling in an online university just because you didn’t get your high school diploma. Although most colleges (online and otherwise) require a high school diploma to enroll in any program that grants bachelor degrees,...
Minimising The Chaos - What To Pack For College
As your teen embarks on their college adventures the excitement; apprehension and general chaos can be distracting. The process of your child leaving home for the first time is daunting. You want them to be prepared for their college experience. ...
Money Making – Money Saving Tips for College Students
Money is something that is difficult to get, but easy to get rid of. However, if you are smart about handling your money, you can get through college or university paying less and making more. While studying, the main source of income for you is...
More Ways To Use The Taxation System To Pay College Education Costs
In addition to Education IRAs and federal tax credits there are many other ways to use the taxation system to pay for the high and increasing costs of a college education. You need to consider all of these tax benefits in order to ensure that you...
Reduce College Debt with Scholarships
Six Scholarship judges were sitting around an oval table. Forms
were piled into 50 boxes. Each one had the name of a state. I
looked at the boxes and wondered why some of them were
overflowing and others had just a few. This was the first...
Use Tax Credits To Help Finance Your College Education
Students are always on the lookout for ways to help pay or offset the cost of their tuition. There are various government grants and scholarships available to you if you qualify. But what if you don’t qualify for these government programs? ...
What Sets A College Student Credit Card Apart From Other Credit Cards
With college student credit card that today, most parents
contend that it is okay to let college students obtain their
very own credit card. Not only because they want to let their
kids manage their finances alone but also because having...
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Avoiding College Credit Card Traps
Congratulations college freshman! You’re about to embark on one of the most exciting times of your life. By now your parents, siblings, and friends have offered you all kinds of advice on how to make your transition to college smoother - how to get along with your roommate, what classes to take and which ones to avoid, where to find the best off-campus food, and how to stay safe on campus.
One thing they may have not warned you about is how quickly you’ll be bombarded with credit card offers. You’ll find them in your textbooks, in your mailbox, and on every campus bulletin board. You’ll be offered free DVD’s, t-shirts, music downloads, and more in return for completing an application for credit.
Why all this fuss over you for a stupid piece of plastic? Because they love to recruit new borrowers, especially in your age bracket. They know, from numerous studies, that college students tend to be impulse buyers. And even though your impulse purchases tend to be small - pizza, coffee, beer, CD’s, cigarettes, books, etc. - those small purchases can add up quickly.
Fifty-four percent of freshman students and 92 percent of sophomores have at least one credit card. A recent study shows the average college student graduates with between $1,500 - $3,000 in credit card debt.
Here are 7 tips to help you manage your college credit card needs:
1) Look for a card with the lowest fixed percentage rate and a low or no annual fee. Read the fine print carefully - many low or 0% introductory rate offers expire in 6-12 months.
2) NEVER use your credit card for a cash advance. The fees and repayment structure associated with a cash advance are
outrageous.
3) Have a budget! Your credit card is not free money. Budget your money so that you can pay off your balance at the end of each month. If you can’t pay off the balance, always make more than just the minimum payment.
4) Pay your bills on time, otherwise you’ll pay a late fee between $25-40 every time your late with a payment. Late payments will also increase your chances of having your percentage rate raised on ALL your credit accounts.
5) Request a low credit limit somewhere between $700-$1,500. The object is to have credit available to meet some of your expenses and in case of an emergency.
6) Less is better. You don’t need more than one or two cards at the most. The more you have the more tempted you’ll be to use them or to “max” them out.
7) Consider using a debit card instead. A debit card is linked to your checking account and purchases are automatically deducted from your account balance. Of course, make sure you have money in your account to cover any purchases you make.
Using a credit card is a big responsibility whether you’re a college student or an adult. Managing your credit wisely establishes a positive credit history which will serve you now and well into the future.
Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
About the Author
James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his e-book “IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!” and other bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
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