Right Age for First Credit Card

Never give your kids a credit card, not even those prepaid cards.  Cash is more real to a child or teen than swiping a card--they can see and know how much they have left.  Cash teaches your kids to live within their means.  Up until your kids have a steady job, give them a cash allowance that is appropriate for their age.  Tell them no more cash until next allowance day once the cash they have runs out.  Trust me this is much better than letting a teenager run amok with plastic.  Even an atm or debit card is an excuse for a kid to overspend.

There is never a right age for a credit card they are life stealers! Teach your child how to save first then make sure they know how to use cash. You would be surprised at how many people can't count back change. Next show them how to budget a checkbook and not to overdraft their accounts.  Most of all if the money isn't in the account don't write the check and explain overdraft fees.  I do believe in having a bank debit card teach them how to use a ATM machine and how to check their balance and they understand not all their transactions might not be showing on the screen. Teach cash principles first it is to easy to get in over your head with a credit card face it they are rarely used for emergancies only.

when they are on their own and paying their own bills and not living off theit folks

A kid with a credit card,mmm not usually a good idea.  First start teaching them how to handle money at an early age.  Usually around the time they first ask for something at a store.  If the allowance is $10, they have to put $2.50 into savings right off the bat.  Then they have to manage the rest for that "Pay period."  As for giving them a c/c - I didn't and wouldn't.  My son earned his own c/c working and had a debit card.  He had a savings account that I opened when he was a year old, he made regular deposits of 25% of his income (allowance) and then as a teenager he had a summer job and did the same.  The rest went into a checking account.  He is very frugal and if he can con his old mother into paying for something he will do so before spending his own hard earned money.  l0l  Seriously tho, every kid is different.  It's up to you his/her parents to teach them to handle money.  Mine is 24 and still won't buy on credit.  He has the credit, just chooses to save and buy with cash. 

When they get a job and are on there own!

At least 35 years old.

Sixteen is a good age because most teenages by then have other responsibilities such as a job and often a car.  They should know the card is for emergencies and not for going on a splurg at the mall.  My daughter had a card at 16 and used it when she travelled between our home in Fort Worth and her birth fathers in NYC.  It was used to pay for travel expenses such as train, bus and cab fare and incidental items like lunch at the airport while waiting for her flight.  She learned a lot of adult lessons by having the responsibility of keeping track of what she spent on the card and by paying me back for anything she bought that was not considered a travel expense.  She's 18 now, in her own apartment and managing quite well! A credit card can be a good tool if used responsibly!

I wouldn't recommend a "kid" ever have a credit card. 18 is the legal age to apply for a credit card. NO one no matter what their age should ever have a credit card without a steady source of income.

I do however, have nothing against pre-paid or reloadable cards where you can only spend the amount available on the card. We have purchased these for our kids to school shop the last 3 years (they are 13 and 10 now) and it works really well because they can pick out their own items, swipe the card, and learn something in the process. As one person mentioned that cash teaches a child to live within their means, so does a pre-paid card, in fact even more so. Because they can use the card and then keep track of their spending and balances just like they will have to do as adults with credit cards and checks.