High School Student Credit Cards: Why Mom and Dad are So Freaked Out

High School Student Credit Cards: Why Mom and Dad are So Freaked Out
High school credit cards -- they're a teenager's dream come
true and a mom and dad's worst nightmare. Students beg for
them, mom and run from them like they carry the plague.
What has mom and pop so freaked out? If you want to have
even half a hope of getting one of these coveted pieces of
plastic, there are some things you need to know...

Better Do Your Homework

I'm not talking about that math assignment you turned in
late last week. I'm talking about learning the ins and the
outs of responsible credit card use. Your parents are more
likely to consider high school student credit cards if they
know you have the knowledge necessary to handle them
responsibly. This means learning about credit limits, late
fees, statement payments and everything else that goes
along with credit card account ownership.

Speaking of Responsibility

If you really want to prove you're ready for high school
student credit cards, you'd better start showing mom and
dad you're a responsible individual. Responsible, as in,
curfew is not a general guideline. Responsible, as in, that
money you borrowed from mom for the movies has been paid
back. You want to prove you're ready? Start showing mom and
dad you're up for the challenge by taking your other
responsibilities seriously.

Create a Contract

If you're serious about high school student credit cards,
get to work creating a contract for mom and dad to review.
You'll want to include highlights such as who's responsible
for what (ideally, you'll be responsible for all charges)
and how much you will be allowed to charge per week before
mom and dad's permission is required. This let's your
parents know that you understand a credit card is not a
free-for-all spending spree.

If All Else Fails

If you do all of the above and your parents still think
you're not ready for high school student credit cards,
here's a last-ditch approach.

Start saving money. You'll need about $600 for this to
work. Once you have your $600 saved up go to mom and dad
and tell them you want a secured credit card in order to
start building a positive credit history. Tell them to use
$300 of your $600 as the security deposit and the remaining
$300 in a savings account in case you were unable to pay
your bill for some reason.

This will show your parents that you understand the
financial responsibility of being a credit card holder and
that you're ready to live up to that responsibility.

It may seem like a lot of effort, but the above steps
really will help your parents feel better about getting you
your own credit card. Remember, high school student credit
cards are as scary for mom and dad as they are exciting for
you.

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For more tips on credit cards (including tips on credit
cards for teens), saving money and avoiding getting taken,
check out CreditCardWhizKid.com, a website that specializes
in providing credit card tips, advice and resources.
http://www.creditcardwhizkid.com/credit-cards-for-teens/