Let's Teach Credit Management in Middle School

 What a shame, that most times a person learns about credit management only after they have bad credit.

I have two kids. A son was who attended Youth Challenge Academy in Fort Stewart Ga.  He graduated when he was seventeen years old. About two weeks after graduation the first credit card offers began to roll in.

My daughter finished at Richmond Academy here in Augusta GA. The summer of her graduation the offers poured in for her as well. She to was seventeen, under age or so I thought to sign for a credit card.

I had my son and daughter sit down and read the little white insert. They had a credit limit of $300.00...or so they thought. Upon further inspection they found out that when the activated the card there was a fee. There was a charge for the card and another charge for a duplicate, ect.

By activating the credit card they made a bill, and only had about $72.00 of available credit left to spend. Even though they have not made a purchase they have a bill. What a mean cruel trick to play on a  person...do these credit card companies have a conscience at all.

Thank goodness I have made my kids aware of protecting their credit, made them read all the things that come in the credit card offers. But what about all the kids who do not have anyone to inform them. Anyone can say well...the information is there its up to you to read it. I would say it you give someone a card that is in need, they will use it no matter what the payback, to fill the need.

I just think if we pushed to have credit management in the classroom setting it would give kids a head start on making informed decisions about their credit. Going to school to get an education to make money, then not knowing how to handle that money seems a little backwards...don't you think?