How should college students handle their first credit card? Chris Taylor for Current Oct 5, 2026 Oct 5, 2026 Updated 2 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAmpD >:==:@?D @7 p>6C:42?D 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ 368:? E96:C 7C6D9>2? J62C 2E F?:G6CD:EJ[ E96J 2C6 6?4@F?E6C:?8 >2?J 7:CDED @? 42>AFDi %96:C 7:CDE 5@C> C@@>[ E96:C 7:CDE 4@==686 4276E6C:2 2?5 @7E6?[ E96:C 7:CDE 4C65:E 42C5]k^AmkAmr@==686 :D 72>@FD=J 76CE:=6 8C@F?5 7@C 32?<D =@@<:?8 7@C ?6H 4FDE@>6CD] $EF56?ED DE2CE:?8 @FE @? E96:C @H? ?665 4C65:E 2446DD[ 2C6 56G6=@A:?8 DA6?5:?8 923:ED[ 2?5 2C6 2== =:G:?8 2?5 2EE6?5:?8 4=2DD6D 4=@D6 E@86E96C[ H9:49 >2<6D 7@C 2 C:49 6?G:C@?>6?E 7@C =6?56CD E@ E2C86E]k^Am People are also reading… The latest on Hank Brown’s injury, Iowa’s quarterback situation and Jeremy Hecklinski’s ‘fresh start’ Tom Brady's aviation habits after his retirement from pro football Litigants named in 'Cornell 7' assault lawsuit The ‘Guillermo Effect’ takes out a good dancer on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Judge: Fired teacher offered students extra credit in return for cash donations Nursing home cited for violations after resident dies by suicide Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe revealed at three-day event in Iowa City Five-star center Khalia Hartwell commits to Iowa women's basketball David Hoffmann: A better chorus for the communities we serve Meet ‘Jeremiah Payne,’ the Iowa WR helping prepare for Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith Oklahoma reckons with environmental costs of marijuana industry Ohio State rolls to 17-point win over Iowa as Hawkeyes drop first game of 2026 Why Kirk Ferentz didn’t have to work hard to refocus Iowa after Michigan win ‘Eternally Yours’ reimagines vampires through a 500-year married couple Supreme Court lets Trump resume deporting migrants to third countries kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2 C646?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H2==6E9F3]4@>^65F^44^4C65:E\42C5\DE2E:DE:4D\7@C\4@==686\DEF56?ED^addbdQm(2==6EwF3 DEF5Jk^2m[ gdT @7 4@==686 DEF56?ED 92G6 4C65:E 42C5D[ E96 2G6C286 32=2?46 :D Sa[`__[ 2?5 a_T 2C6 42CCJ:?8 32=2?46D @G6C Sd[___]k^AmkAmw6C6VD E96 52?86Ci $EF56?ED 5@?VE 92G6 >F49 7:?2?4:2= 6IA6C:6?46[ 2?5 H96? DF556?=J 8:G6? E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD :? 4C65:E[ E96J >2J ?@E J6E <?@H 9@H E@ FD6 :E H:D6=J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4FCC6?E]4@>^nFE>0D@FC46lDE24<6CU2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l9@H\D9@F=5\4@==686\DEF56?ED\92?5=6\E96:C\7:CDE\4C65:E\42C5QmrFCC6?Ek^2m[ 2 4@?DF>6C 7:?E649 32?<:?8 A=2E7@C>[ C6A@CED] %96J 42? 62D:=J C24< FA G6CJ =2C86 563ED :? D9@CE @C56C[ 5:88:?8 E96>D6=G6D 2 9@=6 E92E 4@F=5 E2<6 J62CD E@ 86E @FE @7]k^Am kAmyFDE @?6 H@CC:D@>6 6I2>A=6i p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 (2==6EwF3 2?2=JD:D[ E96 A6C46?E286 @7 DEF56?ED A2J:?8 @77 E96:C 4C65:E 42C5D :? 7F== 6G6CJ >@?E9 92D 564=:?65 `a]dT D:?46 a_`g]k^Am kAmQx? >J 62C=J a_D[ x C24<65 FA >@C6 E92? Sa_[___ :? 4C65:E 42C5 563E 3642FD6 x 5:5?VE F?56CDE2?5 2 D:>A=6 3FE 4C:E:42= CF=6i x7 J@F 5@?VE A2J E96 32=2?46 :? 7F== 6G6CJ >@?E9[ E@52JVD AFC492D6D 42? 364@>6 E@>@CC@HVD 7:?2?4:2= 3FC56?[Q D2JD r@C:??2 #@D6[ 2 7:?2?4:2= A=2??6C :? q6?:4:2[ r2=:7] QxV> AC@323=J >@C6 A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE E9:D E@A:4 E92? >@DE 3642FD6 x =62C?65 E96 92C5 H2J]Qk^Am k9bm(92E AC@E64E:@?D 5@ DEF56?E 3@CC@H6CD 92G6nk^9bmkAmu656C2= =2H =:>:ED 9@H 288C6DD:G6=J 4C65:E 42C5D 42? 36 >2C<6E65 E@ DEF56?ED] %96 7:?2?4:2= E6>AE2E:@?D FD65 E@ 36 6G6? H@CD6 7@C 4@==686 DEF56?EDi r@?DE2?E 4C65:E @776CD @? 42>AFD =65 E@ =68:D=2E:@? =:<6 a__hVD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4?34]4@>^D6=64E^42C5\24E\AC@E64E:@?D\7@C\J@F?8\A6@A=6^RH92E\:D\E96\4C65:E\42C5\24E\@7\a__hQmrp#s p4Ek^2m ] xED AC@G:D:@?D :?4=F56 AC@9:3:E:?8 :DDF:?8 42C5D E@ E9@D6 F?56C a` H:E9@FE 2 4@\D:8?6C WF?=6DD E96J 42? AC@G6 E96:C @H? 23:=:EJ E@ A2JX[ C6BF:C:?8 A2C6?E2= 2AAC@G2= E@ :?4C62D6 4C65:E =:?6D[ 2?5 >2?52E:?8 563E 65F42E:@? 7@C ?6H DEF56?ED]k^Am kAmqFE 6G6? H:E9 E9@D6 C6DEC:4E:@?D[ 4@==686 :D @7E6? E96 7:CDE E:>6 J@F?8 25F=ED 2AA=J 7@C 2?5 D64FC6 4C65:E] $@ :EVD H:D6 E@ 5@ D@ E9@F89E7F==J[ E9:?<:?8 E9C@F89 2== E96 C2>:7:42E:@?D[ 2?5 92G:?8 2 D>2CE DEC2E68J :? A=246 7C@> E96 @FED6E]k^Am k9bmw@H D9@F=5 DEF56?ED 49@@D6 E96:C 7:CDE 4C65:E 42C5nk^9bm Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmq6 D6=64E:G6] yFDE 3642FD6 2 7:C> :D @776C:?8 J@F 4C65:E 5@6D?VE >62? J@F 92G6 E@ E2<6 :E] x?DE625[ 5@ J@FC 5F6 5:=:86?46 2?5 7:8FC6 @FE H9:49 42C5D >2<6 E96 >@DE D6?D6 7@C J@F]k^Am kAmp7E6C 2==[ D@>6E:>6D 4@==686D 92G6 7:?2?4:2= 28C66>6?ED :? A=246 E@ AFD9 2 46CE2:? 32?<VD AC@5F4ED 2?5 D6CG:46D] %92E >2J 86?6C2E6 766D 7@C E96 :?DE:EFE:@?[ 3FE :E 2=D@ >62?D E96J Q42? DE66C DEF56?ED :?E@ >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 AC@5F4ED[Q HC@E6 E96 r@?DF>6C u:?2?4:2= !C@E64E:@? qFC62F :? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7:=6D]4@?DF>6C7:?2?46]8@G^7^5@4F>6?ED^47A304@==686\32?<:?8\2?5\4C65:E\42C5\28C66>6?ED\C6A@CE0a_ac\`a]A57Qma_ac C6A@CEk^2m]k^Am kAm$@ =@@< A2DE E96 72?4J D:8?\FA 8:G62H2J[ 7@4FD @? >@C6 :>A@CE2?E :?7@C>2E:@? =:<6 :?E6C6DE C2E6D[ 2?5 DE2CE D=@H H:E9 @?6 42C5 2?5 2 C6=2E:G6=J =@H 4C65:E =:>:E[ DF886DED #@D6]k^Am kAmQx @7E6? E6== J@F?8 25F=ED E@ EC62E 2 4C65:E 42C5 =:<6 2 563:E 42C5i x7 J@F 5@?VE 2=C625J 92G6 E96 42D9 :? J@FC 4964<:?8 244@F?E[ 5@?VE DH:A6[Q #@D6 D2JD] Q%96 3:886DE >:DE2<6 DEF56?ED >2<6 :D 4@?7FD:?8 2 4C65:E =:>:E H:E9 >@?6J E96J 42? 277@C5 E@ DA6?5]Qk^Amk9bmw@H 42? DEF56?ED 3F:=5 4C65:E H:E9@FE 8@:?8 :?E@ 563Enk^9bmkAm$64FC65 492C86 42C5D 2C6 2 8C62E H2J E@ 3F:=5 4C65:E H9:=6 >:?:>:K:?8 563E[ 3642FD6 J@F 42? @?=J DA6?5 E96 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J 2G2:=23=6 :? J@FC 244@F?E] %92E DECF4EFC6 96=AD J@F 56G6=@A A@D:E:G6 DA6?5:?8 923:ED 2?5 2 8@@5 4C65:E 9:DE@CJ 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ H:E9@FE E96 E6>AE2E:@? @7 2? @A6?\6?565 4C65:E =:?6]k^Am kAm(:E9 2 D64FC65 492C86 42C5[ 7F?5D 2C6 96=5 :? C6D6CG6 2D J@F DA6?5 E@ A2J J@FC 3:== 6249 >@?E9] q6 DFC6 J@F 49@@D6 @?6 E92E C6A@CED J@FC >@?E9=J A2J>6?ED E@ 2== E9C66 >2;@C 4C65:E 3FC62FD WtBF:72I[ tIA6C:2? 2?5 %C2?D&?:@?X]k^AmkAmz66A :? >:?5 E92E 2 9:89 4C65:E D4@C6 H:== E2<6 D@>6 E:>6 E@ 56G6=@A 7@C J@F?8 DEF56?ED ;FDE =2F?49:?8 :?E@ E96 H@C=5] pD 2 86?6C2= 36?49>2C< E@ 2:> 7@C[ 2 uxr~ D4@C6 @7 ef_ 2?5 FA :D 4@?D:56C65 8@@5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6IA6C:2?]4@>^3=@8D^2D<\6IA6C:2?^4C65:E\65F42E:@?^D4@C6\32D:4D^H92E\:D\2\8@@5\4C65:E\D4@C6^QmtIA6C:2?k^2m] r@?EC2CJ E@ H92E D@>6 ?6H 3@CC@H6CD >:89E E9:?<[ C6249:?8 E92E D4@C6 5@6D?VE C6BF:C6 >2<:?8 3:8 AFC492D6D @? 4C65:E] $E625J[ @?\E:>6 A2J>6?ED >2EE6C 72C >@C6 E92? 3:8 32=2?46D]k^Am k9bm(96? D9@F=5 4C65:E 65F42E:@? DE2CEnk^9bmkAmrC65:E 65F42E:@? D9@F=5 DE2CE H6== 367@C6 7C6D9>2? J62C] !2CE @7 E96 52?86C @7 42>AFD 4C65:E :D E92E DEF56?ED 5@?VE J6E 92G6 >F49 @7 2 9:DE@CJ @7 562=:?8 H:E9 >@?6J @? E96:C @H?]k^AmkAm%96 H2J E@ 7:I E92E :D E@ 3C:?8 E66?D :?E@ 72>:=J >@?6J 4@?G6CD2E:@?D[ 62C=J 2?5 @7E6?[ D@ E92E 3J E96 E:>6 E96J 9:E 7C6D9>2? J62C[ E96J 2C6 2=C625J G6CJ 72>:=:2C H:E9 >@?6J >2?286>6?E 2?5 H@?VE 36 @G6CH96=>65 3J E96 4@==686 4C65:E 3=:EK] p55:?8 E96> 2D 2? 2FE9@C:K65 FD6C @? 72>:=J 42C5D[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ :D @?6 H2J E@ 86E E96 32== C@==:?8[ 6G6? :7 E96JVC6 ?@E 24E:G6=J FD:?8 E9@D6 42C5D C:89E 2H2J]k^Am kAmQpD x @7E6? E6== >J 4=:6?ED[ E96 36DE E:>6 E@ E6249 4C65:E :D 367@C6 :E :D ?66565[Q D2JD vC68@CJ vF6?E96C[ 2 7:?2?4:2= A=2??6C :? |2E2H2?[ }]y] QpE `g[ A2C6?ED 42? 96=A E96:C 49:=5 4@?D:56C 2 DE2CE6C @C D64FC65 42C5] x C64@>>6?5 FD:?8 :E 7@C 2 AC65:4E23=6 6IA6?D6[ D6EE:?8 2FE@>2E:4 A2J>6?E 7@C E96 7F== 32=2?46[ 2?5 C6G:6H:?8 E96 DE2E6>6?E E@86E96C >@?E9=J]Qk^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4FCC6?E]4@>^3=@8^9@H\D9@F=5\4@==686\DEF56?ED\92?5=6\E96:C\7:CDE\4C65:E\42C5^nFE>0D@FC46lDE24<6CU2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l9@H\D9@F=5\4@==686\DEF56?ED\92?5=6\E96:C\7:CDE\4C65:E\42C5Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4FCC6?E]4@>^nFE>0D@FC46lDE24<6CU2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l9@H\D9@F=5\4@==686\DEF56?ED\92?5=6\E96:C\7:CDE\4C65:E\42C5Qmk6>mrFCC6?Ek^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am 0 Comments Originally published on current.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Related to this story Most Popular Social Security COLA 2027: How much could your benefits increase? The official COLA announcement is not expected until later this month, but the latest forecasts offer an early look at what beneficiaries could see. What does jewelry insurance actually cover? A plain-language guide Jewelers Mutual Group reports that jewelry insurance covers loss, theft, damage, and disappearance, with specific exclusions for wear and tear… Turning 55 and leaving your job? What to know about the IRS rule of 55 The Retirement Group reports on the IRS Rule of 55, allowing penalty-free 401(k) withdrawals for those leaving their job after turning 55, wit… Jewelry insurance 101: What every new homeowner and renter should know Jewelers Mutual Group reports that standard homeowners or renters insurance often undercovers jewelry, with typical theft caps of $1,000 to $1,500. 11 smart ways to pay off student loans Freedom Debt Relief reports smart ways to pay off student loans, emphasizing extra payments, loan forgiveness programs, budgeting, and employe… Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Cornell president breaks silence over alleged campus rape Hakeem Jeffries pressed on whether he will ‘punish’ Dems who break rank Hakeem Jeffries pressed on whether he will ‘punish’ Dems who break rank Wildland-Urban Interface Fires Cause Higher Health Risks Wildland-Urban Interface Fires Cause Higher Health Risks UN issues call to action on world's vital dryland forests UN issues call to action on world's vital dryland forests
Social Security COLA 2027: How much could your benefits increase? The official COLA announcement is not expected until later this month, but the latest forecasts offer an early look at what beneficiaries could see.
What does jewelry insurance actually cover? A plain-language guide Jewelers Mutual Group reports that jewelry insurance covers loss, theft, damage, and disappearance, with specific exclusions for wear and tear…
Turning 55 and leaving your job? What to know about the IRS rule of 55 The Retirement Group reports on the IRS Rule of 55, allowing penalty-free 401(k) withdrawals for those leaving their job after turning 55, wit…
Jewelry insurance 101: What every new homeowner and renter should know Jewelers Mutual Group reports that standard homeowners or renters insurance often undercovers jewelry, with typical theft caps of $1,000 to $1,500.
11 smart ways to pay off student loans Freedom Debt Relief reports smart ways to pay off student loans, emphasizing extra payments, loan forgiveness programs, budgeting, and employe…