What Teens Need to Know About Credit Cards

May 16, 2012 in Money  

There was a time when I wanted more free stuff. In college when they ran a coupon in the school newspaper for a free bottle of soda, my roommate and I picked up ten copies. When they offered a free t-shirt in exchange for filling out a credit card application, I got the shirt.

Now I’m more likely to pass on the free stuff; I don’t need it. But the idea that I signed up for a credit card I didn’t want just to get a shirt I never wore makes me want to share advice with teenagers about finances and especially credit cards.

At Alpha Mom: What teens should know about credit cards before they go off to college. (1. It’s not extra money.)

What would you tell teenagers from your experience? Share your advice in the comments there.

More I’ve recently written at Alpha Mom:

Why I don’t spend precious babysitting hours on cleaning the house.

Crafts: what you can make with sculpey clay (it’s gluten-free!)

I don’t think I will buy more overly-posed school portraits. How you can take photos that really capture your kids.

Recent

Want to Simplify? Start Here. Want to Simplify? Start Here.

Hi Rachel, I have been married 23 years and have three teenage children and have accumulated A LOT of stuff. I want to simplify, but where to begin?

Read more...

How to Fix Broken Powder Makeup How to Fix Broken Powder Makeup

Have you ever dropped an eyeshadow, blush, or powder compact and had the powder go everywhere? This simple fix will make it good as new.

Read more...

Use Up the Pantry Clutter Use Up the Pantry Clutter

Pantry clutter is when pantry is full of food, but “you have nothing to eat.” Let’s use up the food we have and organize the pantry.

Read more...