Should Teens Have Credit Cards? Credit card issuers are reaching out to teenagers and their parents with Young-Friend credit card products.
At first glance, the idea of giving your teenager a credit card can turn you into a cold sweat.
Teens not known for their impulse control at all, and even if your teen usually acts responsibly. There is a concern that they will see a credit card as a shopping card ticket.
Whether it a prepaid card or linked to a mother’s account. These companies say their products offer teens an early life lesson in financial management. While this may true, there also some disadvantages associated with handing over a valuable piece of plastic to a teenager.
Therefore, Making your teenager an authorized user and getting them a credit card linked to your account can one of the most effective ways to prepare them for the future.
The big question here is, Should Teens Have Credit Cards? There are many parents who think that handing over a credit card to their child is not a good option. Many others think that this is a great way to teach their children about the responsibility of handling money.
While many people have their own views on the question. If you are wondering if teenagers should have a credit card then this article helps you understand the benefits and constraints of your teenager carrying a credit card.
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Why Teens Should Use Credit Cards
Credit cards provide convenience, but their main objective should be to establish a good credit history so that when your teen comes to time:
- Qualify for car loans and mortgages
- Be able to rent an apartment
- Qualify for favorable interest rates on all types of loans
- And Obtain lower auto and homeowners insurance premiums
- Qualify for a job (employers are increasingly using credit scores when evaluating job candidates)
The best way to learn is often by doing. Having a credit card in high school can be beneficial
- The teen is responsible
- The teen is given a credit card with a low credit limit
- Parents monitor the teen’s spending and payments monthly
- The Parents discuss the choices made, the implications of those choices, the obvious and hidden costs with the teen
- Parents make suggestions for positive changes
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Benefits of Teens Having Their Own Credit Cards
- Getting a credit card is a big responsibility, but it is also a good way to introduce your children to the practice of handling money.
- Teens can learn from carrying credit cards. They can learn about credit scores, pay bills on time, stay out of debt, and more.
- It can teach your child that a credit card can be a helpful tool if used properly and responsibly.
- Another good reason to give a credit card to your teenage child is to help them start a credit history. Establishing a credit history is very useful for your child’s future as it can help your child with a rented apartment, secured auto loan, etc.
- If you have a credit card, you will not have to ask for money or keep the cash. It also helps teenagers during emergency situations such as car problems, medical emergencies.
- This is a great way to see what money your child is spending. Parents can see on the credit card statement every month where the money is going.
- Knowing that their parents are overseeing their expenses also prevents teenagers from spending money on things that are prohibited by parents.
- You can earn rewards on their spending
- It’s more convenient and secure for both of you
- It can help them build a positive credit history
Disadvantages of Teens Having Their Own Credit Cards
- Some teens may be irresponsible and reckless with their expenses. They can cause serious damage to their future credit scores.
- They may forget to pay their monthly bills or maximize their credit limit.
- Some teenagers are impulsive buyers. Sometimes if they have access to a credit card, they can’t think of spending twice the money they need that can actually lift the loan.
- Many teenagers have their parents as joint credit cardholders. With irresponsible purchases on behalf of the teenager, parents can get in more debt than they want.
- Parents may not know what or how much their child has spent after receiving the monthly credit card statement. By then, it will be too late to do anything about all the expenses.
- Some teens may not feel like they are spending “real” money while using a credit card. For those teenagers, cash may be a better option.
- Many teenagers are unemployed or working part-time on low incomes. If they are not responsible with their credit card, then it can be easy for them to get into too much debt.
Ultimately, the onus lies on parents to make sure that the credit card is teaching their teenagers the right lessons about budgeting, discipline spending, and debt management.
However, As long as parents apply and enforce the rules, a small amount of credit takeaway can help teenagers know that credit card purchases cost money, as do cash shopping.
Frequently Asked Questions
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