Right Age for First Credit Card

Sorry, but you were misinformed.

You must establish credit. 

and Good credit comes from being able to maintain an equal balance. Ex. You have a credit card with a $5000 limit.  Never charging it and keeping it at zero will lower your credit score.  Maxing it out repetedly will also lower your credit score.  By maintaining balance on your card at a level of $300 - $900 but always paying your bill on time will not only keep your score level but also has a better chance of raising your score.

I see no reason to let a child a credit card.they need to learn how to control there spending first and the best way is poening there wallet and see how much cash they have.

Our daugther is 33 now but when she was 16 she attended school and had an evening job. After showing good responsibility we gave her a credit card. We also gave her the money for her down payment on a car.She was totally responsible in all her financial responsibilities and worked and paid off her car and paid her bills.

So I say yes, if responsible. It helps them establish themselves. The concern anyone should take is when they show signs of trouble. It was only until she started datin her now current husband that she depleted her bank accounts, lost her car, ran her credit card and others she got afterwards to even buying him a truck on her credit, which he didn't pay and she couldn't afford it herself so it got repo'd and we paid the balance of it to help her. Some piece of work he is and stupidity does not run in the family. Naturally, we paid what we could and continued to pay until she married that piece of work. Now her credit is never to be again and she has helped him gain good credit while she is without. G_D help her if he ever leaves her high and dry because retired now, we can not help her any longer.

By her own actions she has no contact with us and says she hates us. Now I wonder if we did right by her in exposing her to the ideal that she could pay for anything with credit!

One thing I learned from this is that was then and it is now. Parent(s) times have changed. Kids don't want to work as we or our parents did i.e., cutting grass, babysitting, and work around their own house for an allowance. They are rude, lazy, disrespectful, hang in gangs or with criminal elements, or on drugs which includes alcohol! So based on my own experience, I change and say NO, LET THEM EARN IT THEMSELVES.

With the economy devastated due to credit, loans, etc. why are adults talking about giving children credit cards?  If adults are unable to maintain control with their spending, how can a child not spend out of control?  We are allowing our country and children to live with no discipline.  WE NEED HELP!

16, I have had one since then, and I have never missed a payment or been late.  I know the point of credit because my parents taught me.  It's for an emergency or to build GOOD credit, or to get points.  I am VERY thankful that I was taught before I was out of my parents house how to use a credit card wisely and my husband and I will do the same for our children.

Responsibility is the key element to using credit.  With so many adults unable to discipline themselves using credit cards, how can we expect children to control themselves using a credit card.  Our credit economy is out of control due to the usage of credit.   When are we going to start to behave as adults in this country and "just say no" to all the new toys we can't live without.

When ever it is that you can pay your own bills

It might very by some people

age 5