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should a 19 year old have a credit card?

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Just using it to buy gas is enough to start building some good credit. I got my card at 18 or 19, and pretty much just used it for gas and they kept raising my limit.
 
I got a credit card at 18, but like everyone said, it depends on the 19 year old. I think a good barometer for this is how this 19 year old spends his part-time paycheck. If he blows most (or all) of it, then no credit card for him. If he has no job, then he has no way to pay his CC debt, so still no credit card.
 
No, they're not necessary. I'm 19 and I have three. I never use them. Anything that requries a cc goes through my PayPal debit card instead, where I can spend money I already possess and get 1.5% cashback, rather than build debt.
 
Originally posted by: LadyBuggy
As long as you spend responsibly, and pay everything off right away to avoid going into debt, it's a great idea to use it to build credit.
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Which is exactly why most 19 year olds shouldn't have a credit card.

 
A $500 or less card is a good starter, credit card you want to start off with something you can pay completely off every month. That being said a credit card is only good for building credit if you do all of the following.

a) Pay it off in full every (20-37days depending on your Credit issuers grace period vs. interest) never leave a balance.
b) Never spend more than 50% of the cards total value (i.e. $500 = $250; $1,000 = $500; 1,275,000 = you get teh point)
c) Never ever miss a payment. Miss one payment and watch your new introductory interest rate jump at least 2points
d) Start off with a gas card, though they have higher interest rates they also offer up to 10 cents off each gallon of gas you buy. These are good to get "speed" credit.

Remember your credit report won't show a negative mark until at least 1 month after the fact. It is never a good idea to keep trying to get credit after you have been turned down, each time your credit report is viewed it may be looked upon as a bad thing. Also keep in mind a credit card is the slowest way to build credit (after filing for bankruptcy about 1-20 a year depending on credit limits and cuurrent credit rating at the time)
 
Got my 1st CC when I started college. I have excellent credit. The "secret" is buy only what you can afford to pay when the CC bill comes. I never bought more than I could afford.
 
I had my first card at 18, mainly used it for buying textbooks at school. My parents didnt pay for any of it, so i learned to be responsible with it really fast
 
Originally posted by: OOBradm
what do you think?
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No. I've got one, and I'm not happy that I do.

I got it shortly after I turned 18, and I've had $500 outstanding on it pretty much constantly since then. I've got enough to pay it off now, I'm just waiting to do it so I'll actually have cash money to live off after that instead of having to charge everything.

I'm still 18, for a few more months at least.

It's just so damned tempting to buy stuff with it.
 
Yes, I would reccomend having one, just spend it the same way you would spend cash and you'll be fine. Using credit cards for their advantages and they'll be great - no change, keep track of expenses, if any issues call up CC company, etc.
 
Originally posted by: daniel1113
It depends on the 19-year old. I had 4 by the time I was 18, but I was running my own business and have always been fiscalling responsible.
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What a dumb@ss... can't even spell...

... oh, wait. Damn 🙂
 
I have 4 and I'm currently 19. I have a $60 balance on one card, which I will pay off at the end of the month. All my other balances are clear.

I wouldn't recommend a credit card to a 40 year old person who is fiscally irresponsible.
 
I got my first CC when I was 16...10,000 dollar limit aswell.

About a half a year later than that I got a CC that gets 5% off on gas and 1% on everything else...which makes it all very worth it.

 
Originally posted by: Auryg
I got my first CC when I was 16...10,000 dollar limit aswell.

About a half a year later than that I got a CC that gets 5% off on gas and 1% on everything else...which makes it all very worth it.
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You sure your parents didn't get the card and you were just on the account?
 
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