YACCT: Student Credit Card

[thehstrybean]

I'm a freshman in college. I recently cosigned (with my parents) on my car, a 2001 Jeep Cherokee. I get paid every 15th of the month, but that's not giving me a good way to pay for gas. My boss posed the ideal that I get a CC and use it for gas only, that way I can pay it off each month. My bank doesn't offer much (First Tennessee), and I know almost nothing about CC (I know how they work, but APRs and such confuse me). What's the best solution for a student? I would mainly be buying gas, but the occasional car part or whatever, but the important thing is that I will pay it off at each bill. Thanks

 

[mundane]

If you're certain that you'll pay it off each month, look for a card that has no annual fee and some sort of cashback rewards. Since you're not going to be carrying a balance, you don't need to [immediately] worry about APR.

Edit: Typo

 

[thehstrybean]

This?

Really the best one I could find. I've read that some give rewards on gas and stuff. Do they have one for students that does that?

 

[intogamer]

Discover isn't always accepted everywhere once you reached pass paying gas

Try the citi card

 

[buzzsaw13]

I signed up for a AMEX rewards card from Bank of America, they gave me 50 bucks after my first transaction. I know Sony has a card that gives $100 going on right now.

 

[intogamer]

Rossman's site

http://www.bettercreditcard.com/

Maybe get that Citi Gas CC?

 

[AkumaX]

I heard AAA has a gas card 5%

 

[thehstrybean]

Which of these?

Do I have to open an account with Citi to get a card?

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
https://www.accountonline.com/ACQ/Choos...3C&siteId=cb&SEARCH_CRITERIA_1=COLLEGE">Which of these?</a>

Do I have to open an account with Citi to get a card?

No. Credit Cards are backed by banks.

 

[jagec]

I don't quite understand how getting paid once a month is a problem when it comes to paying for gas. If you're running so close to the edge of your budget that you can't keep $50 in the bank for two weeks, you probably shouldn't have a credit card. Or a newish SUV.

That said, go ahead and apply for the Citi Dividend card. They might well accept you, just with a low credit limit, and you don't need a high one just to buy gas.

The first credit card I got, I only signed up for because they gave me a T-shirt. Ended up being a really good thing, because now I have a nice long credit history, and a pretty good score

 

[thehstrybean]

AMEX looks like a nice card...The Citi Driver's Edge looks great, but could I get approved with no credit?

 

[Chrono]

AMEX OR CITIBANK!

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: jagec
I don't quite understand how getting paid once a month is a problem when it comes to paying for gas. If you're running so close to the edge of your budget that you can't keep $50 in the bank for two weeks, you probably shouldn't have a credit card. Or a newish SUV.

That said, go ahead and apply for the Citi Dividend card. They might well accept you, just with a low credit limit, and you don't need a high one just to buy gas.

The first credit card I got, I only signed up for because they gave me a T-shirt. Ended up being a really good thing, because now I have a nice long credit history, and a pretty good score

I'm at a point where the only thing I buy is gas, and the getting paid once a month thing pushes me, but I make enough to where I could pay it off and still be able to put money in the bank...

 

[bunker]

Since you have no credit, to build some credit history and to save yourself from getting in trouble with a regular credit card, I'd get a plain ol' gas card from Shell, BP, Citgo, etc....

 

[dullard]

What you are proposing is EXACTLY why credit cards were invented and exactly how you are supposed to use them. That is a great start. If you keep that attitude up, you'll have a great credit history, get cheap loans, get the lowest possible insurance prices, not get turned down for jobs, etc.

Really, for your use, any credit card with no annual fee or signup fee is good. If you use it as you say, the interest rate is meaningless and also the credit limit will be meaningless. You won't use it enough for rewards to add up to anything significant. But, there is no harm in trying for a student card with rewards. With this in mind, most cards will look nearly identical, because, well they will be nearly identical.