by : Tom Tessin

I'm sure you've been stressed out by now reading all over the internet on how to teach your student to use a credit card. The fact is that you're having a hard time because you started too late and your teen is now technically an adult. If you could go back in time, you would be the one that would tell the new parent to teach their child about money and credit cards earlier.

If your child is arguing about a credit card and you're steering them away from it, you're going to have a hard time. In fact, 80% of today's college students carry a credit card. This number generally goes up year after year. What makes a student get a credit card? It's about being an adult and having that "back-up" plan if all else fails.

If your child still listens to you about money and everything else under the sun, it's important that you start talking to them about the wonders of a credit card. While a credit card isn't necessarily bad for a kid, it can be if he/she doesn't know how to use it. This is where you, the parent will step in and teach them the correct responsibility.

"Well, I'm bad with credit cards and I feel that if I teach my child my habits, they will turn out just as bad" If you're asking yourself this question or you're using it as an excuse not to teach your child, then you should really seek financial advice or sit down and do a lot of reading and research because after all, learning about credit cards and financially responsibility isn't that bad at all!

When your child receives their first credit card in the mail, it's important that you teach them all about fraud issues and how a credit card should be properly stored. Make sure that they have their name signed on the back and they also have the credit card's toll free number handy just in case the card gets stolen. Remember to tell them that they should never lend out their card or give the number to anyone suspicious.

Most students make the mistake of treating credit cards like a piece of plastic. They will buy, buy, and buy and not realize how much debt they are actually raking up. If you can influence your child to get a particular credit card, you should recommend to them to get a debit card. This way they can actually see how much money they are spending month to month.

In the end, a credit card isn't evil for a student. Credit card policies are a lot stricter today than they were fifteen years ago. They generally give out low credit limits and offer nice incentives for students to pay their bills off in time. Just remember even if your child doesn't listen, it doesn't hurt to tell them some advice, it may stick in their head down the long road and they will thank you in the end.