Comments on: Credit Card Survey, Teen Finances and Someone is Looking for People to Interview

By: Debt Management

Debt Management — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:26:54 +0000

After college, I had a ton of student loans and credit card debt. I never really learned how to manage my finances until my mid-20s. My parents always paid for everything and I was given a credit card in high school. I would love to be debt free and am working hard to get there.

By: GiGiG

GiGiG — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:57:14 +0000

I am one of those who started carrying a credit card at the age of 16. My parents gave me a limit and I went crazy. Because I did not have to pay the bill, I had little concept of credit. This lack of knowledge, with the help of established credit at an early age, led me to $8000 in credit card debt during college. I believe parents should teach their children about money and CREDIT very early. I once believed credit cards were a magical piece of plastic that granted me anything and everything I wished with no penalty.

Luckily, I am now debt free. Ironically, I currently work for a credit card directory: http://www.CardOffers.com–A great site to learn about credit cards, as well as finding a credit card tailored to your needs. It is also a great tool if you want to teach your child about APR, Annual Fees, and Rewards Programs–it’s free. I once read people should do the same type of comparison shopping they do for their home loans for their credit cards. Credit is king, and maintaining good credit is probably one of the most important things you can do in America. So, when teaching about money, don’t forget to teach about credit.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:41:03 +0000

I don’t know my credit score … but I don’t want credit, so who cares? I have no credit card debt, just a school loan. And I keep my credit reports clean. I just haven’t paid to get the score yet. I don’t think that’s anything bad … especially if you aren’t in the market for credit.

By: longtimelurker

longtimelurker — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:25:39 +0000

HI – I have followed you for a little over a year now,maybe two, I think. Your progress is positively impressive and motivating. Fortunately, I have been debt free for a number of years now, but often I regress with big ticket item purchases with the credit card, saying I will pay it at the end of the month…only to have it linger for a month or two. Your dedication is truely amazing. God Bless you and your family. I wish you all the best. Continue wokring hard.

By: Brandon J

Brandon J — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:11:15 +0000

Hi, quick off-topic comment. For some reason I get 5 – 10 readers from your blog to mine every week. I just wanted to say thanks for the readers! Continued luck with blogging!

Brandon J
Money for Military
http://moneyformilitary.blogspot.com

By: Mr Credit Card

Mr Credit Card — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:16:16 +0000

Hey Tricia

Thanks for mentioning the survey.

Mr Credit Card

By: danielle

danielle — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:00:32 +0000

There is some advice on that page that I would give my daughter, and there is some that I would not.

I recently read an article about how broke young people are. It constantly threw snide comments about the younger generation being dumb and lazy. I didn’t think that was fair. Younger people are broke I believe, because they listened to their parents. They got the educations their parents wanted them to have, the expensive housing their parents expected them to have, and all the stuff their parents taught them was necessary. Not only that, but they have spent their time in classrooms learning the anatomy of grasshoppers, but had no opportunity to learn anything about personal finance.

As soon as my daughter is old enough to learn basic 2+2 math, she will sit down with me and watch me balance our finances. I want her to be like me- debt free, prosperous, simple, and successful.