Originally Posted by Katia

What's wrong with you? its just my opinion you don't need to argue.
You don't need any cosigners or whatever to get a 5,000 credit card!
My Europe trip of 2 months cost me 1,500 CAD + 500 for shopping. I'm pretty sure anyone over the age of 16 can make that much in a year anyway, so relax

u holidayed in europe all summer, pretty cool

Okay well I didn't say everyone can afford it. I'm lucky enough to have a good job and not have any debt I guess. and I was just basing the credit card thing on my experience. When I was 18, and just got accepted to mac I got one with a $1500 limit, by myself, with no income ( I traded stocks), I dont know why they gave it to me if your explanation is true.. but now they gave me a $5,000 one, no clue why again, but I just use it to pay for my phone online and repay it the next day... :S

Also, just to clarify, I am not an only child and no my parents don't give me Any money whatsoever.

Originally Posted by andrew22

u holidayed in europe all summer, pretty cool

Yeah it was really cool, mostly UK and Russia though..

A lot of my friend live in Europe so saves me money on hotels, but if you're planing to go and visiting countries or cities for a few days at a time, try www.couchsurfing.org, you can stay with locals for free and they show you around town if they have time and you can make great friends that way.

If you're looking for cheap vacations, last minute booking sites are also amazing, they can cut the cost of vacations dramatically (as long as you're flexible about dates and location).

Taking on credit card debt to travel is probably not a good idea though. Never buy something you don't have the money for, and you'll find it much harder to go into debt.

check out www.travelzoo.ca
they have amazing deals on hotels, flights, events..
I went to go see jersey boys in Toronto for 20 bucks.
And right now they have a Mini casino package that includes a room, free breakfast buffet for 2, 10 bucks in casino chips, 45$ coupon to the Keg , all for 94$! perfect for a mini vacation to niagara falls if you can't afford to go somewhere

I'm trying to land a summer job, but I've been rejected everywhere I've applied so far, so things don't look very good.

Not just that, money's extremely short in the family, and I'm left to fend for myself next year. I don't think OSAP will give me a bigger loan because I'm not from Ontario.

Fulltime job + 3 to 4 courses.

Originally Posted by Katia

What's wrong with you? its just my opinion you don't need to argue.
You don't need any cosigners or whatever to get a 5,000 credit card!
My Europe trip of 2 months cost me 1,500 CAD + 500 for shopping. I'm pretty sure anyone over the age of 16 can make that much in a year anyway, so relax

Since you seem like an experienced traveller, could you expand on how you seem to travel so much and so cheaply? I'm not harping about how you pay for it, but from what you've written you've taken some really great trips/adventures for very little.

[And yes I looked at the websites you posted (couchsurfers and travelzoo) and they seem pretty neat - thanks!]

I signed up for a few travel sites like travelzoo, and get emails from them every Monday. so I kind of have an idea now when low season and high season is for what countries...
Also I have a lot of friends who study in Europe so instead of paying for a hotel I stay with them. Or you can meet someone off couch-surfer. Or check out Hostelworld.com (i think) and book cheap hostel. I stayed in a hostel when I went to Prague and Italy.. it was alright, only 6 euros a night!

If you want to save as much as possible, get groceries at a store and just make your own food instead of going out to eat ( even McDonald's is more expensive than going to like Tesco in London and getting some bread and meat and making a sandwich.

Flights are really cheap within Europe, I flew to venice from germany for 20Euros! there and back. Try discount airlines like Ryanair.

• Working Full Time
• Working out at the Gym
• Possibly Dance Classes
• Anime North 2010 May 29-31
• Hopefully go Clubbing once or twice
• Camping (possibly)
• Possibly Summer School to get rid of courses next year

Originally Posted by Katia

You don't need any cosigners or whatever to get a 5,000 credit card!

What bank are you going to that's giving away $5000 credit cards...
And you do realize credit card debt is something no student wants to have.. especially for something unnecessary.

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

What bank are you going to that's giving away $5000 credit cards...
And you do realize credit card debt is something no student wants to have.. especially for something unnecessary.

Yea, no kidding. I've got a CC with a 2500 limit, but I'm pretty sure that's only because I've been with RBC since I was a fetus and I've gota line of credit with them with a perfect track record for payments.

And it's a student visa. So... yea. o_O

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

What bank are you going to that's giving away $5000 credit cards...
And you do realize credit card debt is something no student wants to have.. especially for something unnecessary.

I agree, credit cards are very dangerous, especially for unnecessary things like vacations. I almost got a credit card this year to help pay for tuition and my dad freaked out. He said his first credit card was at 25 and he thinks even that was too young, because he didn't need it.

Credit cards are a slippery slope. I definately wouldn't advise them to students for anything that isn't absolutely essential (ie. tuition, rent, groceries).


I actually haven't been on a vacation since I was 3 years old (to Disneyworld with my family). My boyfriend and I spent a few days in Niagara Falls last year and that was it. I never understand how people can afford to travel/vacation so much during school ..?

Originally Posted by Kathy2

I agree, credit cards are very dangerous, especially for unnecessary things like vacations. I almost got a credit card this year to help pay for tuition and my dad freaked out. He said his first credit card was at 25 and he thinks even that was too young, because he didn't need it.

Credit cards are a slippery slope. I definately wouldn't advise them to students for anything that isn't absolutely essential (ie. tuition, rent, groceries).


I actually haven't been on a vacation since I was 3 years old (to Disneyworld with my family). My boyfriend and I spent a few days in Niagara Falls last year and that was it. I never understand how people can afford to travel/vacation so much during school ..?

I think that people tend to overexagerate the dangers of credit cards... I'm not saying that there aren't any, but all you have to do is be sensible. It's the people that spend thousands and thousands of dollars they don't have that get screwed over.

I've had my credit card since the summer now, and I use it quite often (mostly when I go out). I try to pay about a quarter to half of what's on it (or just my minimum payment if there's a really small amount on it) and I've been doing just fine. The most I've had on it at one point is 500ish (which is what it's at right now) but that's been accumulating for a few months now.

Tuition is the LAST thing I would wnat to put on a credit card.
I'm shitting my pants right now imagining the interest on 7000.

I have a credit card, but I think some of you are overreacting. It's about wise spending; not stupid kids throwing money to the wind =/. If you're using credit to pay of tuition, then you should probably look at other financing options - like a student LINE of credit (which may be where people are making the confusion here because I've never heard of someone using credit to pay tuition).

Anyways, I use my visa for online purchases or when I've forgotten my debit card in my other wallet at home and I've limited the purchases on the card up to 1000. Think smart and you'll be fine. It requires restraint and control over your spending habits, and if you're good, well than there's no problem - provided your spending only cash that you have, and not on cash you "should be getting by the next pay cheque" because life typically tends to throw you curve balls and you always end up striking out.

Also, no bank provides credit without co-signers to students. That's just plain bullshit. Co-signers are liable to pay bounces in the scenario where the card holder fails to maintain repayment.