Managing Having Teens With Credit Cards
When you were a teen, you might have noticed how magical a credit card seemed. More and more parents give teens a credit card for emergency purposes than there are emergencies ever. You can help them learn about credit cards by letting them use a credit card that you monitor.
Credit cards are a very big responsibility no matter who you are. A teen that sees it as free money is more likely to make a bad mistake when using credit for the first time. Letting a teen make a mistake is one of the ways that they can learn not to continue to make those mistakes.
You might think that it is a bad idea to give a teenager a credit card, especially if you do not have funds to cover any mistakes they might make. Do consider this though, have you made a mistake because you took out a credit card application and were accepted then having a shopping spree only to fins out a few minutes later that you went over the limit? If yes then you could tell them about your experience and how you do not want them to go through that.
Credit card companies make it easy for you to receive additional cards for use in purchasing goods and services by your spouse or family members. This is why it is best to really discuss what you wish to do with your teens so they can have the idea in their head while you wait for the card to arrive in the mail.
If you really want your teen to have a card for emergency purposes, then it is possible to discuss the importance of credit cards and the responsibilities associated with them. This allows them to take in a few moments of thought to process what responsibilities are and thus making them at least a little more responsible with the card when you give it to them.
You can set rules for acceptable purchases and also lay down the boundaries of which they can spend. If they break these rules or boundaries, you can cancel their card and have them suffer. If they get back on track, you may want to give them another chance, but until then their card is not active any more.
Closing Comments
You can let a teenager grow up and experience responsibility by giving them chances, or you can let them try on their own and get into far worse debt and credit situations. Why not guide those who need guidance and give them a reason to like you because you are the "cool" parent?
Credit cards are a very big responsibility no matter who you are. A teen that sees it as free money is more likely to make a bad mistake when using credit for the first time. Letting a teen make a mistake is one of the ways that they can learn not to continue to make those mistakes.
You might think that it is a bad idea to give a teenager a credit card, especially if you do not have funds to cover any mistakes they might make. Do consider this though, have you made a mistake because you took out a credit card application and were accepted then having a shopping spree only to fins out a few minutes later that you went over the limit? If yes then you could tell them about your experience and how you do not want them to go through that.
Credit card companies make it easy for you to receive additional cards for use in purchasing goods and services by your spouse or family members. This is why it is best to really discuss what you wish to do with your teens so they can have the idea in their head while you wait for the card to arrive in the mail.
If you really want your teen to have a card for emergency purposes, then it is possible to discuss the importance of credit cards and the responsibilities associated with them. This allows them to take in a few moments of thought to process what responsibilities are and thus making them at least a little more responsible with the card when you give it to them.
You can set rules for acceptable purchases and also lay down the boundaries of which they can spend. If they break these rules or boundaries, you can cancel their card and have them suffer. If they get back on track, you may want to give them another chance, but until then their card is not active any more.
Closing Comments
You can let a teenager grow up and experience responsibility by giving them chances, or you can let them try on their own and get into far worse debt and credit situations. Why not guide those who need guidance and give them a reason to like you because you are the "cool" parent?
posted by Credit Counseling at
9:50 AM
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