High school students buy tons of stuff with credit cards or debit cards. Debit cards allow quick and easy money access directly from a bank account. Credit cards allow students to pay off what they have bought within a certain time frame.
A debit card is linked to someone’s checking account, allowing them to make in-person or online purchases. Debit cards use online money; when making a purchase, you can only use the money on the account.
Credit cards are used if someone wants to purchase something but cannot access the money at the time. When using a credit card, the purchase is added to a running toal, which a student must pay off by the end of the month or they will be charged interest.
When buying less expensive items, students prefer to use a debit card because their amount is limited. “When I am making a smaller purchase, I tend to use a debit card because it is more manageable and I do not have to worry about paying it off. Debit cards are also not unlimited so I have to be careful not to spend it all so smaller purchases are easier. The money is right there for my debit card so if I have enough I will tend to use it so that I do not have to pay off my credit card as much,” sophomore Gabriella Estrada said.
For sudden purchases and more expensive items, students find it easier to use a credit card so when they get paid they can pay it off. “When using my credit card I would rather use it for bigger purchases since I have time to pay it off. My job pays me not very often so I like to know that I have time to pay off some of my purchases instead of right away. With debit cards, it is hard to use because if I don’t have enough money I can’t buy something until after I get more money,” sophomore Noa Lucas said.
Students may find debit cards easier and more accessible. “I already have the money on my debit card so I don’t know why I would use my credit card and have to worry about paying it off. My debit card is connected to my account so it is easy to access when trying to pay for something. Using a credit card can be useful when I don’t have enough but at least with debit, I don’t have to worry about paying it off,” Estrada said.
Students usually start off with a debit card first before getting a credit card. “My parents got me a debit card first because it taught me about money before I started using a credit card. Credit cards are definitely something you have to be more responsible for and not forget to pay off the purchases. Starting with a debit card taught me to be careful about how I spend my money and not make unnecessary purchases,” sophomore Emily Kesselman said.
