I got my first credit card (and a Costco membership card :D) shortly after my 18th birthday. I didn't have a job at the time I got my credit card, but about a month after the school semester started, I obtained an on-campus job that guaranteed 20 hours per week. Regardless of whether I found a job or not, I would pay off my beginning-of-the-semester credit card bills (which consisted of mostly textbook expenses) with the student loans that I take out every school year, and my parents would pay the bills for the non-textbook/non-school-related bills, which are seldom since I pay for groceries and other necessities with cash (from my own checking accounts btw. I don't rely on my parents. They've got their own expenses to worry about.). I think 18 years of age was the perfect time for me to get a credit card. If I didn't, I would not have been able to get a jump start on building good credit.
I don't think there is a "right" age to get a credit card. It really depends on a person's maturity level and ability to think logically and use reason regarding financial decisions. For me, I was raised to be frugal and conservative with my hard-earned money, so even as a young, fresh-out-of-high-school student, I did not spend a lot of money needlessly. I also knew that credit does not equal money. I do not swipe my credit card unless I already have the money to pay off the balance at the time of purchase. In the end, it's not about what age we should be to get a credit card, it's about our financial decision-making values and our knowledge of how to spend wisely.
As far as car maintenance goes, it pays to invest in a workshop manual. Sometimes they're only a few pounds (or dollars) on ebay. When something needs attention, you can have a look at the workshop manual and decide if it's something you can handle yourself or whether you need a mechanic with special tools.
I got one at 20 when I signed up to get a free baseball hat. I had no credit, no job and nothing, but still I wanted the hat and I thought it was a cool way because I was sure I would be rejected.
I put my parent's address down as my home address. To say the least, when my mom saw the card in the mail, I got a tongue-lashing. I did tell her the hat was nice though.
I got mine in college, but I never ran up the balance as so many young kids do. I just like to save money too much. I've always paid off the balance every month and only let it go over if times were tight.
I have made it a point to follow them around town. They do a fashion show almost every month. They then sell right off the runway immediately after the show, I have been able to get some one of a kind dress pieces for about $60 or less. These dresses would definitely cost me around $300-400 anywhere else. I highly recommend all plus size gals to check them out. The owner offers personal service, and has even explained that she makes last minute shopping easy. she will bring it right to your place or business, and during your lunch hour you can try on as many as you like and purchase. I have not been able to find this kind of service anywhere!
I didn't get a credit card until my early twenties when I was living in Chicago. I never used it much because my father taught me that if you don't have the cash for something, you don't really need it.
I got my first credit card in during my freshman year in college (late 1990s). I think it had a limit of $250 or something ridiculously low. Actually, it's still my only credit card. I was sort of scared of it and paid it off religiously. I'm no longer scared of it (and the limit has gone up), but I still pay it off religiously.
I got my first credit card about 3 months after I started my first full-time job, but not for the reason you'd think. I'd always thought that I wouldn't need one - I'm frugal and wasn't living above my means. Then I had to pay a plane ticket for a work trip from my own checking account. My employer was a non-profit and pretty strapped for cash most of the time, so they preferred that things like that go on employees' cards to be reimbursed later. Having only been working there for a few pay cycles, and being just out of college, let's just say I didn't really have the spare money in my checking or savings accounts to pay for both the plane ticket and rent. After selling some clothes, changing all of my coins, and borrowing $15 off of a house mate, I did make rent that month... and applied for a credit card immediately after dropping off the envelope with a partial rent check and $75 in cash.
I still never carry a balance, and I now have cash to cover emergency expenses even beyond plane tickets, but I've also learned the value of postponing costs for a full pay cycle or 2 for larger items - and enjoyed my ability to do so.
I much, much, much prefer the concept of renting. I love the mobility, and it costs less. However, there are two reasons I would buy a house: kids and pets. Kids - I don't have any kids and am completely undecided on if I ever will, but if I were to have kids, I refuse to raise them in an apartment. Just my personal preference. Pets - I have a cat but want so many more pets. Pet fees and deposits are ridiculous, and I'm limited in what I can have. If I'm ever going to have a dog, I want a house so that I can have a backyard for him.
I got my first credit card about 3 months after I started my first full-time job, but not for the reason you'd think. I'd always thought that I wouldn't need one - I'm frugal and wasn't living above my means. Then I had to pay a plane ticket for a work trip from my own checking account. My employer was a non-profit and pretty strapped for cash most of the time, so they preferred that things like that go on employees' cards to be reimbursed later. Having only been working there for a few pay cycles, and being just out of college, let's just say I didn't really have the spare money in my checking or savings accounts to pay for both the plane ticket and rent. After selling some clothes, changing all of my coins, and borrowing $15 off of a house mate, I did make rent that month... and applied for a credit card immediately after dropping off the envelope with a partial rent check and $75 in cash.
I still never carry a balance, and I now have cash to cover emergency expenses even beyond plane tickets, but I've also learned the value of postponing costs for a full pay cycle or 2 for larger items - and enjoyed my ability to do so.
I got my first credit card when I was 21 and a full time college student with a part-time job. Even though I had enough money to buy the Ipod I wanted, I worried about spending that much money all at once, so I decided to get my first credit card. After doing MUCH research on the best cards for students, I finally settled on a Citicard with a 1 year introductory rate of 0%. I paid off the full balance in 2 months and still have this same card 5 years later. The rate has since jumped to 8.4%, but I continue to use the card for occasional purchases and always pay the balance in full.
It's funny you should say that. I was renting a house for a while and the landlord wouldn't fix anything, so my husband did. After a while, he got tired of the repairs (especially since it wasn't our house). Now we are living in an apartment complex and they fix everything! It's a huge relief not to worry about repairs, and it saves us money - the best part.
It sounds like you made a good financial move; you had 20% down and you received a tax credit. Using it as a rental property is a good investment especially since you can afford the mortgage with or without tenants.
I got my first card in college. I had a student job so was perfectly able to pay my bills on time. Paid in full on time, every time. I wanted to start building credit as soon as possible. I'd been an authorized signer on my parents card for a few years before. I think people should get cards whenever they are responsible enough to use them properly. Age is, after all, just a number.
I miss renting. Home ownership has been nothing but a bust for me. I suppose I enjoy being able to paint my walls whenever the desire strikes me, but I loathe the repairs and upkeep that are required. I'm just not built for home ownership.
Thanks for the tips! I've recently started buying from www.modcloth.com which has some designers that carry plus size dresses.
I got my first credit card (and a Costco membership card :D) shortly after my 18th birthday. I didn't have a job at the time I got my credit card, but about a month after the school semester started, I obtained an on-campus job that guaranteed 20 hours per week. Regardless of whether I found a job or not, I would pay off my beginning-of-the-semester credit card bills (which consisted of mostly textbook expenses) with the student loans that I take out every school year, and my parents would pay the bills for the non-textbook/non-school-related bills, which are seldom since I pay for groceries and other necessities with cash (from my own checking accounts btw. I don't rely on my parents. They've got their own expenses to worry about.). I think 18 years of age was the perfect time for me to get a credit card. If I didn't, I would not have been able to get a jump start on building good credit.
I don't think there is a "right" age to get a credit card. It really depends on a person's maturity level and ability to think logically and use reason regarding financial decisions. For me, I was raised to be frugal and conservative with my hard-earned money, so even as a young, fresh-out-of-high-school student, I did not spend a lot of money needlessly. I also knew that credit does not equal money. I do not swipe my credit card unless I already have the money to pay off the balance at the time of purchase. In the end, it's not about what age we should be to get a credit card, it's about our financial decision-making values and our knowledge of how to spend wisely.
Junior year of college at one of those free tshirt/sign up tables
As far as car maintenance goes, it pays to invest in a workshop manual. Sometimes they're only a few pounds (or dollars) on ebay. When something needs attention, you can have a look at the workshop manual and decide if it's something you can handle yourself or whether you need a mechanic with special tools.
I got one at 20 when I signed up to get a free baseball hat. I had no credit, no job and nothing, but still I wanted the hat and I thought it was a cool way because I was sure I would be rejected.
I put my parent's address down as my home address. To say the least, when my mom saw the card in the mail, I got a tongue-lashing. I did tell her the hat was nice though.
I got my first card from my school's credit union the beginning of my junior year of college
I got one in college. An Amex Student card. I still have it, 7 years later!
I got my first credit card my freshman year in college. Discover Card. They were always all over campus.
I got mine in college, but I never ran up the balance as so many young kids do. I just like to save money too much. I've always paid off the balance every month and only let it go over if times were tight.
As a senior in college in order to build credit. It was a well thought out decision, not an impulse.
I have made it a point to follow them around town. They do a fashion show almost every month. They then sell right off the runway immediately after the show, I have been able to get some one of a kind dress pieces for about $60 or less. These dresses would definitely cost me around $300-400 anywhere else. I highly recommend all plus size gals to check them out. The owner offers personal service, and has even explained that she makes last minute shopping easy. she will bring it right to your place or business, and during your lunch hour you can try on as many as you like and purchase. I have not been able to find this kind of service anywhere!
When I was 29 years old, it took me very long time, but I managed to do it with a respectable bank, and I am happy for it.
I was around 16, and it was a card that my mom co-signed on, but I had my own card with just my name on it. I first got my truly very own CC at 18.
I didn't get a credit card until my early twenties when I was living in Chicago. I never used it much because my father taught me that if you don't have the cash for something, you don't really need it.
I got my first credit card in during my freshman year in college (late 1990s). I think it had a limit of $250 or something ridiculously low. Actually, it's still my only credit card. I was sort of scared of it and paid it off religiously. I'm no longer scared of it (and the limit has gone up), but I still pay it off religiously.
I got my first credit card about 3 months after I started my first full-time job, but not for the reason you'd think. I'd always thought that I wouldn't need one - I'm frugal and wasn't living above my means. Then I had to pay a plane ticket for a work trip from my own checking account. My employer was a non-profit and pretty strapped for cash most of the time, so they preferred that things like that go on employees' cards to be reimbursed later. Having only been working there for a few pay cycles, and being just out of college, let's just say I didn't really have the spare money in my checking or savings accounts to pay for both the plane ticket and rent. After selling some clothes, changing all of my coins, and borrowing $15 off of a house mate, I did make rent that month... and applied for a credit card immediately after dropping off the envelope with a partial rent check and $75 in cash.
I still never carry a balance, and I now have cash to cover emergency expenses even beyond plane tickets, but I've also learned the value of postponing costs for a full pay cycle or 2 for larger items - and enjoyed my ability to do so.
I much, much, much prefer the concept of renting. I love the mobility, and it costs less. However, there are two reasons I would buy a house: kids and pets. Kids - I don't have any kids and am completely undecided on if I ever will, but if I were to have kids, I refuse to raise them in an apartment. Just my personal preference. Pets - I have a cat but want so many more pets. Pet fees and deposits are ridiculous, and I'm limited in what I can have. If I'm ever going to have a dog, I want a house so that I can have a backyard for him.
I got my first credit card about 3 months after I started my first full-time job, but not for the reason you'd think. I'd always thought that I wouldn't need one - I'm frugal and wasn't living above my means. Then I had to pay a plane ticket for a work trip from my own checking account. My employer was a non-profit and pretty strapped for cash most of the time, so they preferred that things like that go on employees' cards to be reimbursed later. Having only been working there for a few pay cycles, and being just out of college, let's just say I didn't really have the spare money in my checking or savings accounts to pay for both the plane ticket and rent. After selling some clothes, changing all of my coins, and borrowing $15 off of a house mate, I did make rent that month... and applied for a credit card immediately after dropping off the envelope with a partial rent check and $75 in cash.
I still never carry a balance, and I now have cash to cover emergency expenses even beyond plane tickets, but I've also learned the value of postponing costs for a full pay cycle or 2 for larger items - and enjoyed my ability to do so.
I got my first credit card right out of high school at 18. I received a preapproved offer from Capital One in the mail.
I got my first credit card when I was 21 and a full time college student with a part-time job. Even though I had enough money to buy the Ipod I wanted, I worried about spending that much money all at once, so I decided to get my first credit card. After doing MUCH research on the best cards for students, I finally settled on a Citicard with a 1 year introductory rate of 0%. I paid off the full balance in 2 months and still have this same card 5 years later. The rate has since jumped to 8.4%, but I continue to use the card for occasional purchases and always pay the balance in full.
It's funny you should say that. I was renting a house for a while and the landlord wouldn't fix anything, so my husband did. After a while, he got tired of the repairs (especially since it wasn't our house). Now we are living in an apartment complex and they fix everything! It's a huge relief not to worry about repairs, and it saves us money - the best part.
It sounds like you made a good financial move; you had 20% down and you received a tax credit. Using it as a rental property is a good investment especially since you can afford the mortgage with or without tenants.
I got my first card in college. I had a student job so was perfectly able to pay my bills on time. Paid in full on time, every time. I wanted to start building credit as soon as possible. I'd been an authorized signer on my parents card for a few years before. I think people should get cards whenever they are responsible enough to use them properly. Age is, after all, just a number.
I miss renting. Home ownership has been nothing but a bust for me. I suppose I enjoy being able to paint my walls whenever the desire strikes me, but I loathe the repairs and upkeep that are required. I'm just not built for home ownership.
When I tip someone, I take into account the amount of time they served me.
Then I assign them an hourly rate based on how happy I was with their service.
So if you helped me from 9:10 to 9:25, and I want to tip the equivelent of $10 - I give you $2.50 (I use a time card calculator http://www.calculatehours.com/Time-Card-Calculator.html to do the math...)