Credit Card Basics What Every College Student Needs to Know

If you're getting your first credit card, this episode will save you from the mistakes almost every college student makes. I sat down with Hannah and Zion—both currently authorized users on their parents’ cards—and broke down the myths, the traps, and the real rules you need to follow if you want to build credit the smart way.

In this in-detention episode, I explain why utilization matters more than your card type, why paying “whenever you remember” is a disaster, how annual fees actually work, and the exact system I’d force my own kids to follow. This is the simplest, clearest walkthrough of credit card basics for students, period.

You’ll learn how to keep your credit score high, avoid interest entirely, pick the right first card, dodge subscription traps, and build a real emergency fund so you’re not leaning on your card every time life punches you in the face.