Credit Safety On The College Campus

By Tisha Kulak, on February 15, 2008

This is a guest post by Tisha Kulak of CreditorWeb.

Students going off to college are in for a lot of new experiences. With a little common sense and by practicing good habits, stolen credit cards and identity theft will not be one of them. College students have many options when it comes to credit cards. There are many that offer academic rewards for maintaining good GPA’s and others that offer great deals such as cash back incentives or discounts for special purchases and events. College students stand a good chance of finding a credit card with rates and benefits to suit their personal needs.

Students who utilize their credit card for buying books and school materials and for other emergencies get the opportunity to learn first-hand the basics of handling finances and budgeting in the real world. As long as education on financial responsibility comes beforehand from the parents or responsible adults, owning a credit card as a student can be a rewarding lesson for everyone. In addition to learning the fundamentals of good credit, another conversation about safety is just as important.

First-time college kids have a lot on their plate. Trying to navigate new campuses, meet new friends, and understand new class schedules can be confusing and time-consuming. It is important that in the mad rush of student life, college students need to find time to ensure their personal information, especially credit cards, are always properly secured and that receipts are kept safe. Standing in long lines at the book store can break anyone’s mind and wear a student out in the initial first weeks of a new semester. Even so, make a good habit of putting your credit cards away some place safe and check on it often.

It is also important college kids learn about the importance of protecting their privacy and identity. Do not loan your credit card out to anyone for any reason. Never share your PIN numbers of social security numbers with anyone, regardless of the reason. The same is true when you are online. Do not post private information about yourself on any website. College kids are often an easy target because there is often a lot going on during the adjustment period. Getting caught up in your studies and new social life, you may be inclined to let down your guard. Keep a careful eye on your receipts and charges and don’t forget to thoroughly go over your bill each month. It takes an experience thief a quick minute to get your information and even less time to financially ruin your name.

College may very well be some of the best times of your life. If you are careful and diligent with your credit cards and other personal information, you stand less of a chance of having someone take advantage of your and ruining a great overall experience. Your credit will stay with you for a long time, long after graduation, and in some cases well into adulthood. Protecting yourself now is essential to being protected and financially secure in the future.

This post was featured in:

• The Carnival of Debt Management #39 hosted by Credit Card Lowdown. For more information please visit the Carnival of Debt Management.

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Tisha Kulak is a writer for CreditorWeb, where she writes about student credit cards and responsible credit card use.

All posts by Tisha Kulak

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1. Carnival of Debt Management #39 | Credit Card Lowdown