Credit card debt doesn’t shy away from anyone who doesn’t want to shy away from it. It treats everyone equally irrespective of whether the person is a seasoned professional or just a college student. So college student credit card debt isn’t uncommon either.

Since the credit limit on college student credit cards is usually much lower, the college student credit card debt cannot rise to the levels it does for other credit cards.

However, college student credit card debt is an even bigger menace because a lot of students are already in debt due to the loan they have taken for their education. If they pass out of college with college student credit card debt, they will have to pay back not just the loan they taken for studies but also their college student credit card debt.

Since most of the college students are inexperienced in the usage of credit cards, they can easily fall prey to what we call as “college student credit card debt syndrome”. In fact, college student credit card debt is one reason why the credit card suppliers keep a lower limit on college student credit cards.

The solution for avoiding this menace is similar to any type of credit card debt. So, the first thing for avoiding college student credit card debt is to understand the concept that credit card is not free money and that whatever you buy or pay for with your credit card has to be paid back the bill arrives, even if not in full.

Also bear in mind that paying only the minimum amount will subject you to interest and perhaps other finance charges. Unchecked, these could compound and spiral out of control very quickly.

So don’t treat credit cards differently from hard cash. Avoid overspending e.g. do not buy things just because they are on sale, sales keep coming and going and there are always better offers each time; buy only those things that you really need. A good thing to do is to prepare a monthly spending plan and stick to it as much as possible.

Note that I did not say you have to “budget”. The word budget has a certain negative connotation akin to the word “diet” such that hearing it makes you want to turn the other way and run. But a spending plan is in my opinion more palatable.

Even better, a spending plan lets you have the things you love (of course, to a sensible degree) and can be adjusted as needed. You should not make adjustments to your spending plan just to suit your impulses and buy whatever you feel you “need” though.

Can you use your student credit card to pay for college tuition and books when there is no other way? Absolutely. A college education is one of the best investments you can ever make on yourself without which could find yourself financially handicapped for years if not for life. Just be sure to make at least the minimum if that’s all you can afford to protect your credit history and score.

Another very important preventive measure for avoiding college student credit card debt is to avoid going for a second credit card. Some students have a tendency to go for multiple credit cards just because the credit limit on college student credit cards is very low. However, this is a perfect recipe for getting into college student credit card debt. This is how college student credit card debt builds up. One credit card is more than enough for any student.

College student credit card is great training ground for learning about credit cards and using credit wisely. Used the right way it can pave way to a great credit future, where virtually anything is available merely on your signature.

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