im going to apply for my first credit card this afternoon so...

[LastKnight]

hopefully i can manage to donate in the next DU fund drive, or before...

im a kid fresh outta highschool ready to hit college though with no credit so its unlikley they will be quick about approving me. but oh well.

-LK

[LynneSin]

1. Get a Visa Debit Card from your bank

:D

Seriously - I'm in my 30s and I use that now instead of my credit card.

Anyhow, DU takes checks & money orders so you can donate that way too. Stars are available all year round

:bounce:

[LastKnight]

4. got one, but bank warned me not to use it online or at gas pumps n stuff.

heavy fraud areas n stuff, apparently it doesnt have anywhere near the protection, and with a credit card i suppose you can tell your company to deny payment if its not you. if they get ahold of your check card its all your cash.

-LK

[MissAnnThrope]

9. That's Odd

The other week, I left my Visa Check Card in the machine. Stupid, I know, but it happened.

As soon as I noticed, I called the 800 number on the card. I was told that I had the same protection as a regular Visa card and to call my bank in the morning to make sure there were no unauthorized charges. Luckily, there weren't and ATMs eat forgotten cards and the bank destroys them.

However, I don't know if this is unique to the Star Network cards, but there have been cases where they've called me to make sure charges to my check card were mine. Last month they called 5 minutes after I booked plane tickets, to make sure I had indeed booked the plane tickets. I wouldn't have found this too odd, had it not been around midnight when they called.

If you already have the check card, don't call the bank, but call the network that the bank is in and ask them what sort of fraud protection you have.

[onebigbadwulf]

2. Just make sure you can pay back whatever you've spent ...

at the end of the month.

This will build up your credit and prevent you from wasting money on interest. Stay away from debt at all costs!!

[LastKnight]

3. i dont want a large limit for that reason...

im thinkin gas and groceries and other small things at least until i learn the power of plastic, that is.

-LK

[MadHound]

5. Don't do it!

Don't feed the credit card beast. Why pay good money in order to spend money? You don't need a credit card in order to donate to DU, or for that matter conduct any transaction on the Internet. Do it the old fashioned way, send a check.

Besides, the overwhelming majority of first time card owners usually wind up having card problems, overspending, can't pay off their debt, etc. And their credit rating takes a plunge as a result.

I've never had a card in my over forty years on this planet, and I've never had a problem. If I don't have the money for a particular item, I wait until I do. I never have to worry about annual fees or twenty three percent interest, or corporate big brother knowing every single purchase I make.

And you are the credit card company's prime target. They are going to set you up to fail, charging high interest, and when you do, if you can't pay, they're going to make sure your parents do. I hate to channel Nancy Reagan, but just say no, you will be better in the long run.

[JSJ]

6. don't accept any higher than 5 or 6% interest...

...and don't worry about getting accepted- if you have visible means of support that should do it. The banks are fast and loose with issuances these days.

[RivetJoint]

7. Pretty hard for a high school graduate

about to enter college to get a rate of 5-6%. Those rates are for banks' best credit risks. He'll have to build a solid credit history to get a rate that low.

[mrbill]

8. pay off the balance every month.........

and really piss off the credit card company.

[leftyandproud]

10. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay away...Credit cards WILL make you go broke. If you don't have the money to pay for something, you can't afford it...literally.

Don't buy on credit...e-v-e-r