Chapter 7 - Solutions for a Financial Crisis » Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Saving money and staying out of debt is more en vogue than ever. But as to how one stays out of debt, well, there’s still room for debate, particularly when it comes to handling those prickly credit cards.

Credit cards have taken lots of blame for the financial problems faced by many people, and rightly so. Their tricky fee structure, change-on-a-dime interest rates and anything-goes contracts were a recipe for disaster. These rules could suddenly turn responsible spenders into heavy debtors.

But now that credit card rules are changing, there are conflicting views on the best policies for handling credit cards. Should college students start building credit at a young age or steer completely clear?

Making the case for credit card abistence is Fool Proof. Making their case credit union by credit union, Fool Proof brings “tough consumer messages” to the people, particularly college students.

And they make lots of good points, warning students about fine print and credit card debt traps. But, on the other end of the spectrum, Kevin O’Donnell, writing for Slate.com, is 27-years-old and struggling to build credit because he by-passed credit cards for so long.

Now, he can’t get a credit card – not through department stores, his bank or even gas stations. And while young people may not need credit much in their day-to-day lives, they’ll need to build credit if they need financing to buy a home or car.

For years, college students have been bombarded by messaging from credit card companies. And while new regulations will limit those, college students are now going to have to successfully balance a stew of ideas and advice on how to use credit responsibly.

And that’s the hardest message to communicate of all: Use this, but use this responsibly. I mean, anyone who’s seen the Spiderman movies knows what kind of toll responsibility can take on a superhero. What’s the average kid to do?

My advice, for what it’s worth:

Make a plan: Look at your income. Look at your expenses. See what you need and what you want. Think about where you want to be in the future. What are your goals. When you make this plan, include credit cards. You’ll need credit at some point, and if you plan for it you can reduce surprises and shocks and pitfalls.

Stick to your financial plan: This is the hard part, the real work. I’ve made countless budgets only to stash them away in a drawer and not give them a second thought. You made a plan, now do your best to stay true to your word. On the plus side, if you know your budget and live within it, you can eliminate a potentially huge area of stress. Because with your plan, you don’t have to worry about money.

Find a credit card system that works for you: Some people like to use their credit card daily and then pay it off in full at the end of each month. Other people use cards for big purchases and make plans to pay the balance by a certain date. Whatever you do, find something that works for you and stick with. If you don’t like it, you won’t stay true.