What do you wish you had known when starting college?

[Katy]

Ok guys I am adding all this to the list. Do you want me to post the list when it is done?

There is one thing I will throw in here for now because I want to hear the older people who have actually finished college debate it. I am still a college student and so I don't know much about things that are suppose to benefit you after college.

Originally Posted by Denman

Get a debit card ... then you can't go over your credit limit...here we can get student accounts with no interest on a £1250 overdraft ... and free railcard too

The idea I had was not to go for the credit card. If you lose your credit card or it gets stolen you can only lose $50 after you report it (I think). Many debt cards do not have this.

Since I go to college about 3000 miles from home my parents gave me a credit card that is a branch on their account. It is for special permission use. The idea was it would build my credit up slowly...lets say my parents offer to pay for my textbooks for one term. I make the purchase and put it on my credit card. In this manner I do not have to cash a check they send me then carry a term's textbook's worth of money to the store to buy my textbooks. I also earn up credit. The other purpose is for emergency use. If disaster strikes and I need a plane ticket home or a way to pay for hospital bills there is enough in the credit card to cover that. Since I only use it with permission or in emergencies I'm not really tempted to abuse it.

Anyway I wonder what older people think of that plan and if it is worth it for traveling undergrads...because if there is a better plan I'd like to switch to that too.