2008 Student Credit Card Offers

2008 Student Credit Card Offers

We have seen roughly 10 unique student credit card offers ranging from the Citi® mtvU(TM) Platinum Select® Visa® Card for College Students to the Capital One® Standard Platinum for Students. The vast majority of our users are college students. On our website students can compare college student credit cards and apply securely online.

Black Friday update:

Many college students fund themselves at midnight and early morning sales looking for that perfect gift. Hopefully they got a deal on a gift and refrained from non planned purchases. In today's rough economy many people are deciding to hang on to their money, which isn't a bad thing to do. Make a budget and stay set on the budget.

Find the right student credit card

Find the right student credit card

Finding the right student credit card is both easy and time consuming. First off, students should not apply for any credit card until they themselves decide to. This means resisting temptation to apply for a student credit card because of free handouts offered by companies who come to college campuses with "free" giveaways. Credit education is a key part of the process; know what you're getting yourself in to before obtaining a credit card. It can be easy to apply for a student card because of the helpful resources on the internet which allow you to compare multiple credit cards online, before making the decision to actually apply. Websites such as StudentCreditCards.com present top student credit card offers from reputable, well known banks and card issuers. This allows a student and their parents to browse current card offers and find the one that meets their own needs the best.

StudentCreditCards.com also presents educational credit articles which provide insight in to facts and myths about student credit cards for college students. Additional sections include information on how to obtain a free credit report, as well as pages devoted to credit school - which provides additional information and tips on how credit actually works and affects consumers and students. This might be time consuming, reading over the educational material on credit, but it can help a student start off on the right financial foot. Knowing the facts about credit before using a credit card puts oneself in an educated position, with knowledge to know what to expect and what to avoid. A credit score is essentially one's financial reputation and it is looked at when you apply for a mortgage, a car loan, any line of credit and sometimes even by potential employers. This is why it is of the utmost importance to treat credit usage seriously and responsibly as if used properly credit cards are excellent tools in building a strong credit score and respectable credit history.

Some benefits offered by student credit cards include introductory 0% APR (annual percentage rate), no annual fees, zero liability for unauthorized purchases if your credit card is stolen or even misplaced. Example rewards include gift cards; discounts on travel, bookstores and more. Some student credit cards even offer incentives for getting good grades. Be careful in reading all the terms and conditions before applying and exercise informed decision making as you will discover some cards have fees associated with cash advances and balance transfers.

Learn more about credit and compare student credit cards to find the right card for yourself by visiting StudentCreditCards.com.

First Time Credit Cards

First Time Credit Cards

The first time I applied for a credit card was when I was in college. I was fortunate enough to apply for a first time credit card which offered a low credit limit of $400. Within a couple of months I had charged $300 on the credit card and the interest rate was 15%, which put my balance over $300, but under $300. On holiday break I explained to my parents that the only gift I wanted was for my balance on my credit card to be paid off. They didn't even know I had a credit card and were a little upset about me getting one without talking to them first. They paid off my balance on the condition that I only use the card for emergencies. I agreed. Cut to three months later and my credit card balance was back up over $300, but it didn't seem that bad as my credit limit was now at $800. My birthday came around and my parents asked me what I wanted for a gift. I asked they pay of my first time credit card balance of $335. They said sure and were not made or upset as the only charge on the card since the holidays was a charge for car repair, which i had told them about. I used my student credit card for an emergency when my car quit on me. The credit card came in handy as there was no way for me to pay for it as I was on spring break with limited cash.

Credit card for student: First time student credit cards for college students can be useful tools if used properly. I sat down with a credit counselor and learned some of the basics of building solid credit. I learned that paying off your card then canceling it can sometimes not be beneficial for your credit score as it can be better to pay it off and leave it open because having a credit line from a creditor for a length of time shows credit history. Avoiding late payments and keeping your balance low while making regular payments leaves an amount of credit that is available. Not using all of your available credit is rumored to be a factor in figuring one's credit score. In other words, maxing out your credit card is a bad thing, while having available credit is a good thing. A numerical example for good credit could be having a revolving credit line of $1000, with $900 available and $100 which is used monthly and paid off each month when possible. Doing this on a repetitive basis shows a borrowing and payoff pattern which is much better than making the minimum payment of $30 each mont on a maxed out credit card that has a $1000 credit limit.

When it come to credit, students need to learn the basics of building solid credit before applying for first time student credit cards for college students. Consider StudentCreditCards.com to learn good credit tips and compare the major student credit card companies.

Students Saving Money

Living paycheck to paycheck is no picnic. An overwhelming number of people live their lives this way. When your paycheck barely covers your bills, it can be taxing on your wallet and your sanity. Try to keep things in perspective and do the best that you can. Save money where ever you can and don’t make unnecessary purchases. Avoid impulse items at the store and save a little, even if the amount seems trivial.
Find ways to increase your income if possible. Ask for overtime at work or take on a second job. Keep looking for work that could pay you more even if you’re already employed. Have yard sales and utilize auction sites to sell things that you have that you no longer have a need for. Offer services to your friends, family and neighbors. You might even distribute flyers around campus or make signs to attract potential customers. Figure out what you’re capable of and what you have to offer, and then use it. Do things that others may not want to do and that they’d be willing to pay for. Clean houses, wash cars, tutor, clean gutters, cut grass, type term papers, whatever you can think of that can make you a few bucks here and there.
Second, find a way to save. Saving money on your frivolous purchases is job number one. If you go to fast food every day for lunch, stop it all together and pack a lunch. Calculate how much you save every week to keep you motivated. Some people find out that they have to work an entire day to pay for their fast food habit each week. Don’t let going to work cost you a chunk of what you make. Find a carpool to join, start one up or take the bus, train or subway to work and school. Saving gas money adds up quickly now days. Find ways to lower your bills. Switch from incandescent bulbs to fluorescent ones. Make sure that you don’t have the television, stereo or lights on when they are not in use. Don’t leave appliances or chargers plugged in when you’re not using them. They still use power even if they’re turned off.
Make yourself a budget. Figure out exactly what you’re bringing in and overestimate what your bills will be. You don’t want to be caught off guard when you get that first winter heating bill. Some utility companies will allow you to pay a set amount each month that covers you for the year. This helps you to avoid huge fluctuations during summer and winter months. It’s easier to budget for and can help you get into a rhythm with your spending that can help you train yourself to live within your means.
If you need some security and want to be able to handle financial emergencies yourself, then you might consider something like student credit cards. Special offers are available for students looking for credit cards. Don’t overspend or charge things that aren’t really emergencies. Make your payments on time and you can build your credit. Organize your life and you can live comfortably within your income range.

About the Author: Mary Wallace, a retired teacher, is the editor for studentcreditcards.com, a provider of student credit cards and information plus consolidation of student credit cards. For more information, please visit http://www.studentcreditcards.com.