We talk a lot about fighting against the education system and all of the related processes that team up to take your money, your time, your energy, and your resources. Today, we can’t help but touch on a silent threat that seems to trap even the most vigilant students: the massive credit card advertising bonanza. Now, at first glance, you might find it strange that so many credit card companies try to advertise to college students, who are a group that is historically known not to carry that much money. However, what people also fail to realize is that many college students have parents that are more than happy to help them with their finances and give them money. This means that the parents are really the ones with the income, and credit card companies definitely know this. If you’re really thinking about getting a credit card, you will need to make sure that you’re thinking as critically as you can.

This can be hard on campus, where colleges are paid good money to have credit card companies advertise directly to students. Free food and candy is often given out, as well as cash gifts for just signing up for an application — whether or not the person is actually approved for a credit card. If you’re really thinking about trying to start your credit history in college, there are a few ways to get started that aren’t as destructive.

First and foremost, you can try to go with signature loans rather than just credit cards. Instead of just having one type of credit on your history, you will have two different types, which can definitely help you build your credit score on a much more solid foundation. A lot of people are so bent on getting credit that they forget to think about where the credit actually comes from. It can be tough to really make sure that you’re building a well rounded credit profile, but it’s really important that you think about this.

From there, you will need to also make sure that you are looking at your cell phone in a new way. If you don’t pay for your cell phone on time, this can go on your credit. You will need to show future lenders that you can actually pay for even the smallest of things on time. If you can’t handle the small stuff, then it will be harder to afford the larger purchases when you’re older, like a house or even a car!

Finally, you will need to still monitor your credit report for any changes. Identity theft is really no picnic, but if you watch your credit report you will be able to get things brought to a halt quickly. As long as you stay vigilant, there’s really no limit to what you can achieve.

Don’t forget that you don’t have to deal with credit card advertising. If you find that you’ve been placed on a list of some kind, there is always information included on how to get off of the list. You will save on a lot of junk mail this way, which means that you wont’ be tempted by any offers that come in the mail.

That’s really all there is to it — now go put these tips into practice!