Pointers When Considering Prepaid Credit Cards For Students
Prepaid credit cards can be a great way for parents to ensure that their children have a monthly allowance, without worrying about them losing cash or a check. College is very expensive and a student loan only goes so far. You do not want them racking up credit card debts, but you do want them to learn how to use their money wisely. A prepaid credit card can be the answer to everyone’s questions.
It is very hard letting your child go into the world and not worrying about them having enough money for food or living expenses. Unsecured credit cards may be a great way to build up a credit score, but are a very quick way to rack up student credit card debt, which could lead to their credit score crashing. Prepaid credit cards are a way for you to give them money and teach them how to use it responsibly. When the money is gone, they cannot charge or buy anything more until more money is loaded onto the card.
So why use a prepaid credit card instead of bank credit cards? The first reason is that a bank credit card can exceed the balance in the checking account if it is linked to the account. This can cause over limit fees to rapidly accumulate. A bank credit card, if it is not tied to the checking account, is reliant upon credit scores. If your child has not established a credit rating, then he or she can be turned down. Each time a lender runs a credit card application, the credit score can be harmed and lowered. This perpetuates the cycle of applying and then the subsequent denial, based on the credit scores.
The benefits to using prepaid credit cards are many. You do not have to worry about monthly payments. You decide how much they can spend in a month and it teaches the student the benefits to using and spending money wisely. It may not help them build their credit score, but it can certainly protect them from going into debt. You are helping your child learn fiscal responsibility without worrying about receiving calls from bill collectors.
