How to Choose the Right Student Credit Card
Choosing a student credit card can be a daunting task. There are so many factors to look at and so many terms and conditions to understand. While the laws regarding approaching students with credit card plans have become stricter, there are still quite a few options in the market.
Here are some tips and factors that you can remember when choosing a student credit card. The first thing to remember is that being a student does not automatically make you eligible for a student credit card. There are a lot of factors involved in the process.
One of the main reasons students opt for a credit card is to create and maintain a credit history. This good credit behavior comes handy when one graduates and needs to apply for a car loan or lease a house. Applicants can easily maintain a score of at least 700 before they graduate.
One good news about applying for a student credit card is that you do not need to have an exemplary credit card score or any credit card score at all. However, there are some features that you may look out for when buying a student credit card to get the maximum benefits.
First is looking for student credit cards that do not need you to pay an exorbitant annual fee or any such annual fee at all. Opting for a student credit card with annual fees may not be economically viable for students.
Opting for student credit cards that can be used anywhere in the world without additional fees is also recommended. Make sure you ask the credit card company about this feature as most of the credit card companies charge a small amount for transactions done overseas.
If you are getting a student credit card solely for the purpose of a good credit health then you may want to look for credit card companies that offer student credit cards with complimentary services like that of credit monitoring tools. This will help you keep a check on your credit health and show any potential areas for improvement.
If by any chance you are not eligible to get a student credit card, there are other alternatives as well that lets you enjoy the benefits of a credit card. You may opt for becoming an authorized user of any of your parents’ credit card. You may not be legally bound to pay the bills as a part of this program.
Make sure you shop around a bit comparing fees and features before zeroing down on one credit card. A good credit health history goes a long way in helping you establish a responsible financial life for yourself.