Student Credit Cards : What To Look
For
by Jason Mackenzie
Student credit cards offer many
advantages such as quick access to cash, a way to pay for
emergency expenditures and most importantly a tool for
establishing a credit history. Good credit will serve you
well throughout adult life. I'm going to go over some of
the more important things you should be looking for when
choosing a credit card.
The interest rate that a credit card charges is the most
important thing to pay attention to. Many of the more
popular cards have an introductory rate of 0% for the first
six months or more. Pay close attention to the terms of the
card to find out what the rate will change to after the
introductory period is over. Rates can typically vary
between 11% and 21% on most student credit cards.
With some student cards points are awarded for purchases.
Reward points can be redeemed for things like cash, concert
tickets, airline tickets, gift cards and many other things.
Airline tickets are especially nice for students attending
school far from their homes.
Credit card limits for student cards can be any where
from$200 to $5k. Starting with a low limit at first will
reduce the chance of the student going wild and spending
money on items they really don't need.
Some companies require proof of income and some don't. In
the event that a student doesn't have proof of income the
card company might approve them with a cosigner. It all
really depends on the specific credit card companies
guidelines.
Another nice feature offered is cash back rewards for
purchases on the credit card. Cash back varies from 1% to
5% usually based on the specific types of purchases. For
example tuition or book purchases may receive a higher
percentage cash back then grocery purchases.
Other incentives offered by student credit card companies
are things like cash advances, balance transfers, rental
car insurance, online statements, online bill pay and
travel accident insurance.
To make the right credit card choice you need to decide
what benefits meet your spending requirements. By paying
close attention to the terms of the cards you apply for you
won't get surprised in the future.
About the Author:
Now you know what to look for
when deciding on a student credit card. The next step
is to compare the different student credit cards that
are offered to figure out which one meets your needs
the best. At Visa College Card
we highlight some student student
credit cards offered by various companies.
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