 According to a 2004 survey by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation:
- 76% of undergraduates have at least one credit card.
- 43% have four or more credit cards.
- 23% of undergraduates owe more than $3,000 in credit card debt.
- By graduation, many students have $7,000 or more in credit card debt.
- Administrators report losing more students to credit card debt than academic failure.
According to the Credit Abuse Resistance Education Program by Bankruptcy Judges, credit card debt among young adults ages 18 to 24 is skyrocketing. In the last decade, “bankruptcy filings by those under 25 have increased by 96%.”
With a little education and planning, credit cards do not have to be a nightmare. If used wisely, credit cards can allow you to build a good credit history. A good credit history helps you get a lower rate when you borrow money to buy a house, buy or insure a car, rent an apartment, or get a job.
Your credit history is compiled into a credit report. The Fannie Mae Foundation explains that a credit report is “a record of how you have paid your credit card debt and other loans.” A credit report shows how much debt you have, if you have made payments on time and/or if you have not repaid any loan(s).
Every financial decision you make has consequences. What you spend today will not be saved for tomorrow. If you run into money troubles now, that credit history will haunt you in the future. Be careful what you spend, and do not be lulled by easy credit into living beyond your means.
MAKE THE BEST USE OF YOUR CREDIT
- Pay off your credit cards every month if possible.
- Pay on time. Avoid late fees.
- Charge less than the maximum amount allowed on your credit card.
- Compare interest rates. Some cards charge up to 20 percent in interest. Shop around for lower interest rates. Consolidate your debt on fewer credit cards to get better interest rates.
- Be aware of annual fees and introductory offers. Some companies charge you as much as $50 a year just to have their card. Others may offer a low “introductory rate” at first, but then raise the rates much higher in a few months.
- Pay more than the minimum due each month. This pays off the balance faster, and you won't end up paying out so much in interest.
- Only apply for the amount of credit that you actually need. Cut up unnecessary credit cards. If your card balances get too high, use the cards for emergencies only and use cash where possible.
- If you have more than one credit card, pay down your cards with the highest interest rates first. If the interest rates are the same, pay the minimum on the larger ones and concentrate on paying off the smallest one. Keep this up until they are all paid off.
- Call the credit card company, especially if you have been a good customer for some time, and ask for a lower rate of interest.
“Without proper education in personal finance, today's young students may become tomorrow's bankruptcy candidates.”
Dara Duguay, Executive Director
Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
For more information, please visit www.ohiotreasurer.gov or call us at 1-800-228-1102. |
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