If you’ve recently begun attending a college or university, you have probably been inundated with a wide variety of offers regarding student credit cards. While many of these offers sound quite tempting and the rates that they offer seem reasonable, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind before you commit yourself.

One of the first things to keep in mind is that you are entering a situation where the temptation to use the credit card will be enormous. If you are going to school full time, the hours you are able to work will reflect that. When you are in this situation, a credit card can seem like an excellent solution for emergency situations. Studies show, however, that the average amount of credit card debt for a student graduating from a university hovers around 2200 dollars. Why does this number climb so high and how can you make sure it doesn’t happen to you?

The first thing to keep in mind is that the fewer credit cards you own, the better. A recent survey of students seeking higher education loans stated that around 32 percent of students had four or more credit cards, while 78 percent had at least one. While it is possible to use one credit card to pay for another when the newer card has a better interest rate, it is usually preferable to make sure that you only keep as one credit card around and to keep the balance as low as possible. One thing you should be able to do with this card, however, is “exercise” your credit. When you first come out of high school, you will typically have nonexistent credit. Through using a credit card and then paying off the balance on time, you can build up good credit that will serve you well when you are in a position to approach a lending institution about money for a car or a home.

Similarly, you should also be aware that credit card debt can affect your student loan situation. High credit card debt can make later loans difficult to get. Be aware that when you graduate, student loan bills can show up the very next month. Many students are in a precarious situation when they graduate college, and a good credit history can go a long way towards making those months easier for you.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when dealing with your student credit card is that whenever possible, it should be paid off on time and for full the amount. Once you familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of the penalties for late payments and the interest, you will see why this is a good idea. For example, while paying the minimum of 2.5% monthly payments on a 1000 dollar balance with 19 percent interest doesn’t seem to be a huge burden, you need to understand that it would take about 7 years to pay off the debt completely and the interest will come out to more than 700 dollars.

Credit card debt is very easy to get into, but a lot harder to get out of. Start off your credit card experience with good habits and make sure that you never have to deal with the problems that credit card debt can cause.