A few weeks before my first day of college, my mother gave me a talk. She sat me down and said, "I need to tell you something important." About then, I rolled my eyes and got ready for the "Young men are the devil's children and shouldn't be trusted" and "You're going to a place where there will be lots of temptations" speeches. I didn't really get a lecture, but I did hear that I needed to start building my credit.
I really never thought much about that. I always thought that only adults could get credit cards, and Lord knows I didn't feel like an adult at the time. She told me that I should think about getting a credit card. She also told me that she wouldn't help me if I started charging up the world if I did that. Even just that scared me. I worked full time, but what if I couldn't pay my bills? What if I temporarily lost my mind and decided to charge as much as possible? I told her I didn't want to hear any more nonsense about getting a credit card because it was too much for me.
She kept asking for the next two weeks, so I finally told her I'd look into it. Then I asked the million-dollar question, "How do I find the best one for me?" She gave me a blank look. She then blinked. Then she gave a shrug and said, "I don't know, that's your problem." Bring on the crickets!
In 1992, when I was 18, I wanted a credit card but didn't know where to start. On the first day of school, I was in the school store and saw an ad for a credit card for students. I applied without giving it much thought, and I still have a card from that company to this day. Was that the best way to handle the situation? Most likely not. I guess I could have found a card with a better interest rate or a higher limit if I had done more research.
The Internet has changed the way people learn about things these days. I've found that the best way to find a good product is to find a site that lets you compare similar products side by side. Are you interested in credit cards that give you rewards for using airlines? How about credit cards that give you points for hotels and trips? You might just want a credit card that works well for your business or has low interest rates. Even if you have bad credit, you can get a credit card.
Some people are loyal to the credit card company they've had for a long time, which is natural, but why not see if they can give you a better card? Your time is valuable, and it's important to your way of life that you get the best credit card for you.
