How many TVNL members give their children their own credit cards? Why or why not?

Hell NO!! And they would NOT have a cell phone either!!!!!!!

Why NOT? They have not learned to do without until they have the money to pay for something. Give them a piece of plastic and let them run amuck?????

Let them believe everything comes easy? Just swipe a card and it is yours?

NOPE

I agree with you Sadie, a million percent. NO FRICKEN WAY! Teaches no values at all. Earn what you spend. And I managed to get through my life until the age of 30 without a cell phone, the only reason I have one now is because M bought it for me and gave it to me and pays the bill.

I don't have a credit card. Why would I provide my children with one? (Assuming they were teens and not 5 and under.)[/i]

Well, it would be interesting to get them, for one time purposes, with a low max-out (if that's possible), and see how fast they do max it out. Then have them how they'd pay it off before they can possibly use it again.

If I had kids still at home, in the preteen stage, I might get them a clothing store credit card with a reasonable maximum...say $300. (Not sure if there are credit cards with such a low maximum!) BUT, before they could use it for a purchase, they'd have to make sure the entire bill could be paid at the end of the month with their own money. Finance charges would be a NO-NO.

The reason I'd do it would be to try to help them learn to manage money. I see this as rather like those programs at the high schools in which a student has to take home a doll, which is designed to require all the care a real baby needs, to make the students aware of the responsibility of parenthood.