It's never too early to teach anyone how to properly use credit...It'll certainly happen after they're out of the house, why not try to teach them while they are still under your roof??  Don't set them up for failure by attempting to ignore it (Refer to other issues our children fail under due to parental or society's ignorance, and this all makes sense)  The earlier the credit lesson is learned, the better...even if the "steady job" is a paper route.  Nothing is worse than being on your own and ruining your credit early on because no one cared enough to be a mentor.  Not to say I agree with allowing them free reign- I do NOT...teaching is not about extremes, it's about responsibility.  It depends on the family and teen how the details are addressed, as some teens should only learn within the saftey of a prepaid card or a checking account.  Who cares "how" as long as they learn!  (shouldn't this be part of their school curriculum by now?) :O)