Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Teen Credit Card Debt Results

By David Smythe

A credit card has the same influence over everybody, it does not matter who owns it because anybody can be influenced by the power this little piece of plastic has, power that has pulled to the ground millions of people due to huge debts. Statistics have been conducted on teen credit card holders and they show the same figures as the statistics on the adult card owners.

Studies showed that teen credit card debt statistics in the United States indicates that a lot of teenagers showed huge amounts of balance on their credit cards. This is something that should not be happening because teens have limited needs for credit.

Usually, the credit cards offered to them are extensions of their parents' credit cards. Still, that does not stop them from overspending. It can be explained by the fact that the teenagers do not yet fully understand the concept of having a credit card in their hands, and they do not realize the danger and the situation, which can emerge in case the credit card is overused. The studies made must really be a warning sign for the adults.

They must be more concerned with educating the young in the matter. They will not stop spending until they realize that having a powerful piece of plastic in their pocket does not mean they can do whatever they want with it. Teens must be warned and given examples of what overspending with the credit card has done to millions of people all over the world. Education is the key to the change of the statistics.

They must be taught how to resist the temptation of impulsive shopping and they also must be taught how to asses their financial situation so that they can realize the limit they must stop at when spending. What adults must do is explain them with details what is the process of spending money through the credit card, and after that the statistics must change. They need to know that once they have taken the credit card to the counter, there will be a bill issued. That bill has to be paid in time, if not, it can generate interest rates, which applied to the account, can reach amounts hard to be paid back.

In order to be trained and educated about handling their finances, teens must be asked to maintain control of their pocket money and record every penny they spend.

One way to do it, is to create a bank account for your teen child and give him/her instructions on the numerous features of taking charge of money in the bank. Firstly, teens must be taught how to make basic transactions, and when they become accustomed with the bank and the way money is managed, you may get them a debit card.

You can bring your contribution to the improvement of the teen credit card debt statistics by beginning with your own teenage children. Set a low credit limit on their card and show them how to use it. These slow but certain approaches will make your teenage kid understand the real value and the importance of discipline and responsibility in managing his/her finances at an early age. Thus, the shocking figures in the teen credit card debt statistics will considerably decrease.

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