Financial Planning:Financial Planning:Credit CardsCredit Cards

American DebtAmerican Debt

• The median credit card debt is about $2,000• This means 50% of Americans have less than $2,000 in credit card debt and the other 50% of Americans have more than $2,000 in credit card debt.

Average American IncomeAverage American Income

• Less than 9th grade education: $20,000• High school graduate: $32,000• Bachelor’s Degree: $57,000• Professional Degree: $120,00

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/average-american-income.html

College Students & Credit College Students & Credit

• The average age at which a U.S. consumer gets their first credit card is 21• 84% of college students have credit cards• The average undergraduate student has $2,200 in credit card debt• The average college graduate has $4,100 in credit card debt• The average college graduate has nearly $20,000 in debt

Financial Management Financial Management TrainingTraining

• 84% of undergraduates indicated they needed more education on financial management topics. In fact, 64%would have liked to receive information in high school

(Source: Sallie Mae, "How Undergraduate Students Use Credit Cards," April 2009)

How Long Would It Take?How Long Would It Take?

• Pretend you owe $9,000 to your credit card company• If the interest on your credit card is 18%• The minimum payment is $135 per month.• How long would it take to pay off the $9,000 debt and finance charges?

How Long Would It Take?How Long Would It Take?

• Trick question! You will NEVERNEVER pay off the $9,000 debt paying the minimum payment of $135 per month.• Do the math: $9,000 x .18 = $1,620 finance charge.• $1,620 divided by 12 = $135 per month

Statistics Statistics

• The average interest rate is about 14.98% A.P.R. (Annual Percentage Rate)• As of 2008, the average number of credit cards Americans have is 3.5• The average credit card debt per borrower in the U.S. is $4,996 in 2012

The Cost of TimeThe Cost of Time

• Let’s say you owe $3,000 on a credit card with a 15% interest rate• If you make the minimum payment of $75, it would take Over 4 ½ years to pay Over 4 ½ years to pay off your credit cardoff your credit card!

Credit Card Debt Illustration Credit Card Debt Illustration

Running Time 3:24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz05A6cP6Iw

Credit ScoresCredit Scores

• The FICO score is one such popular scoring method. Its scale runs from 300 to 850.• The vast majority of people will have scores between 600 and 800.• A score of 720 or higher will get you the most favorable interest rates on a mortgage

Breakdown of Credit ScoresBreakdown of Credit Scores

What Makes Up Your Credit What Makes Up Your Credit Score?Score?

Read Your Statement Read Your Statement CarefullyCarefully

• Look for errors. Write your credit card company immediately. • Has your rate been increased?• Check your balance. Know what you owe

Credit Card TipsCredit Card Tips

•Pay on time. Late payments negatively affect your credit score. There may be fees for late payments.• Avoid cards with annual fees.

Credit Card TipsCredit Card Tips

• Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?”• Make more than the minimum payment• Avoid reaching the credit card limit. Keep a portion of your credit limit for emergencies• Late fees may also put you over your credit limit and raise your rates

Ignore the Free ChecksIgnore the Free Checks

• They aren’t free. • They are almost the same as a cash advance.• Interest accumulates immediately

Say No to Skip PaymentsSay No to Skip Payments

• Usually occur before or after holidays• Interest is still being added to your balance

Reject Offers to Increase Your Reject Offers to Increase Your Credit LineCredit Line

• Increasing your credit line is like having a whole cake in front of you to eat instead of a small piece.

Small Credit Line Large Credit Line

Stop Using CreditStop Using Credit

• Paying off your balance is difficult if you keep adding to it.• Use your debit card or cash instead

Reduce the Interest RateReduce the Interest Rate

• If you have a long history with the credit card company and have made payments on time, call and ask for a rate reduction

Transfer Your BalanceTransfer Your Balance

• Transfer your balance to a credit card with a lower interest rate*.

• *be careful about introductory rates

Credit Cards Rules of ThumbCredit Cards Rules of Thumb

• Never borrow more than 20% of your annual net income (after taxes)

• For example, if your annual net income is $9,600, you should not have a debt load more than $1,920

• Your monthly debt payments should never be more than 10% of your monthly net income.

Credit Cards Can Be GoodCredit Cards Can Be Good

•Establishes credit history- Helpful in the future when you go

to buy a house or a car• Some credit cards give you cash back• You can borrow money for free if it is paid back in full in 30 days!

Credit Cards Safety TipsCredit Cards Safety Tips

• Don’t let anyone use your card• Instead of signing the back of the card, write “Check I.D.”• Check your credit scores at least once a year to check for errors. It is free (once a year)

What are Fees?What are Fees?

•FeesFees are how credit card companies make money off of you. Some of the most common fees include:

• Application fee• Annual fee • Cash advance fee• Going over your credit limit• Late fee• Finance charge (interest)• Returned check fee

Sample Credit Card OfferSample Credit Card Offer

Request Copies of Your Credit Request Copies of Your Credit ReportReport

• www.annualcreditreport.com• www.experian.com• www.transunion.com• www.equifax.com