The Challenge of the “Best” Choice

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As I write this article, my three year old son is perched on my lap with my arms around him. He’s playing with one of his favorite toys, a Transformer that’s easy to transition from a fire truck to a robot, and he’s telling me stories about them.

He’s happy and safe and secure sitting here on my lap. He’s not worried that there won’t be enough food for supper or that we might have to move because we can’t afford the house. He doesn’t hear Mom and Dad arguing about money.

He just climbed down onto the floor and is now driving his fire truck around my legs. I’m “jumping” each time the fire truck runs into one of my feet and he thinks that those little jumps are simply hilarious.

His laughter just fills up this little office.

One of the most difficult lessons I’ve had to learn as a parent is that my choices regarding my children need to focus entirely on what’s best for them, not what’s best for me.

For example, when I’m at the store, there are times when I would love to buy my son a special treat because I would enjoy seeing the pleasure that it would bring him. However, I know that buying him that toy isn’t the best choice for him over the long term.

When one of my children does something wrong, it would be easier for me to either just let it slide or to just get angry, but neither one of those are the best response for the child.

The best choice in a given situation is often not what it seems to be.

When we’re making personal decisions, it’s really easy to just default to whatever choice is best for us right now in the short term. A splurge at the store? Sure! A treat in the checkout line? Why not? Do something special for my spouse or kick back and watch this movie? Let the credits roll! Bumping up that retirement savings? Hmmm… it’d make my paycheck smaller, so I’ll wait.

The problem is that the little burst of happiness you get from the short-term choice quickly fades away. That treat at the checkout is devoured quickly. That movie ends. The few extra dollars in your paycheck are spent on completely forgettable things.

At the same time, the other things you care about suffer. You don’t have any pocket money when something you really value comes along. Your spouse quietly feels taken for granted. Your retirement account barely grows.

We usually don’t see those long-term consequences when we’re making the choice in the moment. Instead, we have to think about those consequences outside of the moment and constantly remind ourselves that, by giving up a little inconsequential thing right now, we contribute to something much better later on.

Boost that retirement savings a little bit. You won’t miss the few dollars per paycheck, but you’ll definitely be glad you have more retirement savings down the road.

Skip that treat at the checkout. You’ll find a few more dollars in your pocket at the end of the week which can either be used for something more meaningful or help you get your finances on track.

Spend an hour taking care of a task your spouse is dreading – and maybe cook a nice dinner, too. Your spouse will know in a quiet way that you really care and that will radiate throughout your marriage.

As I wrote this article, my son wandered into his bedroom and came back with another Transformer toy. He played with both toys on the floor for a while, but now he’s running the toys up my leg and whispering, “Daddy.”

He wants me to play with him. In this moment, I’d rather get some work done and then play a game with one of my friends, but when I look over at his smiling face, I recognize that, before long, he won’t be a three year old boy any more. He won’t want his father to play Transformers with him. As we play, I can look for opportunities to teach him little things, talk to him about his life a bit, and make him feel more secure.

It’s time to play with some Transformers.

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Finding Your Bliss Station

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Our life has become so economic and practical in its orientation that, as you get older, the claims of the moment upon you are so great, you hardly know where [...] you are, or what it is you intended. You are always doing something that is required of you. Where is your bliss station? You have to try to find it. Get a phonograph and put on the music that you really love, even if it’s corny music that nobody else respects. – Joseph Campbell

I love playing tabletop games. There is nothing that makes me happier than sitting around a table with friends new and old, playing a game together. The puzzle of the game makes my brain cells work a little, but the social interaction with the people around the table makes it sublime. For me, that’s one of my “bliss stations.” It really brings me joy.

I also getting lost in a book. I love reading nonfiction, where my mind spins around new ideas, but I also love speculative fiction, where my imagination runs wild. I love getting so deep into a book that the time just disappears. That’s another “bliss station” for me.

Another one? I actually really like getting lost in a work project, getting into the zone where the hours fly by. I absolutely love how I feel when I snap back to attention, realize that time has passed, and notice how much I’ve accomplished. That’s yet another “bliss station” for me.

The time I spend with my children is another one, as is the time spent doing pretty much anything with my wife. Sometimes, I get them when I get lost in a powerful piece of music, or when something makes me laugh deeply.

“Bliss moments” are simply those moments and situations where many of the negative parts of your life just float into the background, leaving you simply feeling great and enjoying the moment.

I believe that “bliss moments,” however you might achieve them, are the true highlights of our life. They make our day-to-day existence worthwhile. I know that they certainly make my own life worthwhile.

There was a time in my life where I felt that I was achieving “bliss moments” when I would walk out of a store with an armload of books or a new gadget or when I was trying out a new restaurant. In those moments, I would feel incredibly good about things, but those moments came with a price.

I felt empty and sad whenever I’d examine the state of my finances and get a glimpse that I was heading in the wrong direction. I’d feel distraught when I’d look at the bills and not know how I was going to pay them.

Here’s the truth: if you have to spend money to achieve a “bliss moment,” then it’s a false moment.

A bliss moment, on its own, doesn’t steal from the joy of other parts of your life. It brings joy without ever demanding a payment in return. It doesn’t give you stress at other moments in your life. It takes away that stress for a little bit and makes the stress you do have easier to handle without adding more to the pile. A “bliss moment” shouldn’t require hard choices and sacrifice later on.

Here’s a big secret that I’ve learned about personal finance and life: the more “bliss moments” you can find in your life that don’t require you to spend money, the better off you’ll be.

It’s because of that realization that I constantly seek out free sources of “bliss moments” – or at least sources that incur only the slightest additional expense. I go to community events, particularly those that are free and overlap with my interests, such as community game nights and free concerts. I consciously set aside blocks of time to allow myself to fall into the “flow” of working and, as often as I can, the “flow” of a good book. I also set aside blocks to spend specifically with my children.

These steps cost me very little in terms of my money, but they’re all powerful sources of “bliss moments,” and it’s those little moments that bring so much deep joy into my life. With those moments at hand, the desire to have more stuff falls dramatically. I don’t need “stuff” to have these moments.

Seek out the bliss moments in your life, especially the free ones. Find ways to bring them into your life on a regular basis. I’ve found nothing better in terms of making my life feel whole and making me realize that I don’t really need things or expensive experiences to enjoy a tremendous life.

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Avoiding the Comfort Zone

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It is easy to become comfortable and complacent.

You get a job. You work there for a few years. You get to know the people there and the routine. You earn a few perks for being there for a while, such as a bit of additional vacation. It’s easy to just settle in and ride.

You wake up to your financial situation. You make a bunch of moves to pay down debt and establish some new routines that aren’t as costly. Eventually, you start to simply enjoy the lower bills and it all seems to come easily. You just settle in and ride.

Settling in is the easy thing to do. Usually, it’s the path of least resistance, so unless you’re consciously making other choices, you’ll probably wind up doing just that.

The problem is that “settling in and riding” is more dangerous than you think. Settling in assumes that the thing that comes easy today will last forever.

If you’re coasting in your career, you’re just assuming that your current job will just last and last. You never see the job loss coming.

If you’re coasting with your finances, you’re assuming your income will just last and last and that you’ll just eventually take care of all of your debts and your goals. You never see the changes in your life coming.

On a more positive note, if you’re just coasting with your career, you might never see opportunities for a great promotion at work or a new job opportunity that could put you in a great place. The same is true with finances – if you’re just coasting, you might not be ready to take advantage of something when it comes along.

The challenge for all of us is to avoid falling into a comfort zone. But when the comfort zone is so easy to fall into, how do we avoid it?

How do we keep ourselves ready for change when there doesn’t seem to be any change on the horizon?

One tactic is to make preparing for change part of our ordinary life routine. For example, part of your ordinary professional routine should be to keep your resume fresh through educational opportunities and taking on professional challenges in the workplace. Part of your ordinary financial routine should be improving your financial state month over month and seeking out new ways to ramp up the improvement. This should be normal behavior.

For me, I find it useful to spend some time each week looking at the various areas of my life – my professional goals, my finances, my marriage, my parenting responsibilities, my community responsibilities, my skills and passions, and so on – and ask myself what I’m doing to improve in those areas. If I can’t identify anything I’m doing right now to actively improve, then I make sure to add it to my checklist for the coming weeks.

Another tactic I value is to regularly envision disastrous scenarios. What exactly happens in your life if you lose your job? What exactly happens in your life if your spouse falls ill? What exactly happens in your life if your parents fall ill? What exactly happens in your life if your health starts to slip?

Walk through those scenarios a little bit. What would you do? You’ll quickly be able to find some steps that you could take right now to make that scenario go down smoother. Add those steps to your to-do list.

The key to both of these steps is to add things to your to-do list that will lead you to better preparedness for opportunities and for disasters. Riding in the comfort zone makes you complacent and poorly prepared for both disaster and opportunity. Every day, you have a chance to take little steps to make sure that you’re ready for whatever comes your way.

Don’t be complacent. You’ll miss out.

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Do the Hard Things First

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It’s a pretty common principle of time management. When you have a list of tasks to do, choose the one that’s hardest and do that first. That way, you tackle it with the most energy and the freshest mind.

What’s interesting is that many well-organized people use this principle quite well in the short term, but then completely discard it when looking at the long term. When they figure out today’s to-do list, they’ll choose the hard task, but when they look at plans that cover years, they avoid the hard task.

The easiest example I can think of for this phenomenon is retirement savings. Many, many people, when they’re first given the chance to save for retirement, choose not to save anything at all. They choose the easiest part first – not saving anything at all – and save the hardest part for later – socking away 10% or 15% for retirement.

As many as 40% of households near retirement age have no savings at all for retirement – and the numbers get even worse when you look at younger folks.

Your long term goals work almost exactly the same as your to-do list for today. You have more energy and more mental capacity now than you will have in the future, so you should tackle the hardest parts of your goal now, not later.

Retirement savings? Kick that rate up high now while you’re employed and have youth on your side and a strong ability to find a new job if needed.

Debt repayment? The more extra payments you throw at it right now, the less interest you’ll pay over the lifetime of the loan.

Insurance? A plan to get life insurance or health insurance in a few years doesn’t help you if something goes wrong in the next few months.

Yes, it’s hard, especially when you’re younger and your income level is lower.

However, youth has tremendous advantages. You have a much greater capacity to be flexible with your life. You have more energy and more career opportunities. You also have a much longer time horizon, meaning that you’ll have much more time on the other side of that hump.

What can you do to get started? Clean out your closet and sell your unused stuff. Choose the smaller apartment. Make some harder choices today like eating a cheap dinner at home.

Want a specific example? Try out the 52 week money challenge, but knock out all of the highest numbers first – or, better yet, do the entire thing backwards, starting with the $52 week. It’s pretty sweet when you’re finishing up that project and the last few weeks only require you to sock away a few bucks.

You are never younger and fuller of energy and motivation and ability to solve life’s problems than you are right now. Doesn’t it make sense to step up to the plate and knock down some of the more challenging parts of your goals?

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Make Failure Into a Stepping Stone, Not an Excuse

This website is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Material shared on this blog does not constitute financial advice nor is it offered as such. Therefore, The Simple Dollar assumes no legal liability for the completeness, accuracy, or suitability of the information provided by its authors.Readers will also note that The Simple Dollar maintains financial relationships with certain third party merchants. If readers access and utilize the services of one of these affiliates through a link on the blog, The Simple Dollar may be compensated for the referral.Please read the blog’s policies on privacy and image-use.And always consult a locally licensed insurance agent, financial adviser or certified attorney before making any financial decisions.

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Whenever I push myself into a strict diet or a strict exercise regime or a strict set of personal finance rules, I find that I thrive in the short term.

For the first week or so, I’ll hit every benchmark I have within those strict rules. I’ll exercise. I’ll eat incredibly well. I’ll avoid spending an unnecessary dime.

Then, at some point, I fail. Usually, it’s out of thoughtlessness – I just backslide into a bad routine for a moment. I’ll eat something way outside the bounds of what I should be eating. I’ll tell myself I’m going to exercise later today – then I’ll get distracted by playing with the kids. I’ll buy something small on a whim.

Soon after, I’ll realize that failure, and I’ll beat myself up over it. I’ll think really negative thoughts about how I’m hopeless for a little while, then I’ll resolve to get everything back on track. I’ll have a few more days of success, then I’ll fail again.

The cycle repeats itself a few more times, with a smaller and smaller period of success in the middle, until I simply give up.

It’s a common cycle that a lot of people find themselves in when they’re trying to make a major change in their lives. I’ve been through this cycle quite a few times myself, and I’ve come to realize that there’s one big thing at the core of all of it.

I set myself up for failure by adopting changes that offer a very narrow path for success. If you choose life changes that require a significant change from the habits you already have, it’s going to be hard. If you make it so that those changes must be absolute – no backsliding allowed – you’re begging for failure. You need an approach that you can slowly build on.

Instead of saying, “I’m cutting out all food and drinks I don’t eat at home,” simply say that you’re going to cut out those treats three days a week. That way, if something comes up and a friend wants to meet you for coffee on Tuesday, you don’t have to freak out about failing at your goal and you won’t feel like a loser if you do. If you find that this goal becomes trivial, change it to four days a week or five days a week.

Instead of saying, “I’m going to exercise every day for 30 minutes,” simply say that you’re going to work out three times this week for thirty minutes. That way, if you miss an exercise session one day, you haven’t failed at your goal. If you find that this goal becomes trivial, increase the number of days.

In other words, it’s a lot easier to stick with a goal if one mis-step or a simple life interference doesn’t mean failure.

What happens if you fail anyway? If you still find failure, then you should reassess what you’re trying to do.

Failure at a personal goal means that there’s some significant aspect of your life that’s working in opposition to that goal. It’s a sign that maybe you need to work on something else first.

For example, if you find that the reason you’re failing at spending goals is because it’s so easy to buy something incidental with a friend, your challenge shouldn’t be to adopt strict spending limits, at least for now. Your goal should be to separate social encounters from shopping, because it’s that connection that’s causing you problems.

If you find that you mess up on your spending goals because of the ease of online shopping, your goal should focus on your online behaviors.

It’s pretty hard to win a race if there’s a speed bump in the way. Sometimes, you have to stop and smooth out the speed bumps before you can really get going. A failure doesn’t mean you’re incapable of winning the race. It just means that maybe you should stop and smooth out the speed bumps.

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Sons of Anarchy Boss Kurt Sutter Has 'Inquired' About Expanding FX …

February 1, 2014 06:02 PM PSTSons of Anarchy Boss Kurt Sutter Has ‘Inquired’ About Expanding FX Hit’s Final SeasonGet More: Scheduling News, Summer TV Preview+FB Share+G+Matt Webb MitovichSons of Anarchy fans who are anticipating the biker drama’s final season may have a little more to look forward to.Or a little less…?RELATED | Sons of Anarchy Team Weighs In on Deadly Finale, Teases Season 7: ‘Jax Is Completely Untethered’Series creator Kurt Sutter, in his latest WTF Sutter webisode, says he has “inquired” about expanding the show’s seventh and final season beyond the usual 13 episodes. However, “many factors” — such as the FX hit’s rising licensing fee — could prohibit such an extension, by making extra episodes not very cost-effective, he explains.RELATED | Which TV Character Had the Worst 2013 …

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Series creator Kurt Sutter, in his latest WTF Sutter webisode, says he has �inquired� about expanding the show's seventh and final season beyond the usual 13 episodes. However, �many factors� � such as the FX hit's rising …

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Shopping and Tunnel Vision

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One feature that Sarah and I have decided to add to our dream home is a “den” of sorts. This den would serve as a game room and a party room of sorts, plus it would be a place to house our board game collection, our book collection, and our remaining movie collection.

As I’ve mentioned before, we have a pretty detailed idea of what kind of house we’re going to build, so we’ve actually been thinking about details like how to furnish the house. What will we take from our current home? What will we need to add to the new home?

Any game room / party room will need at least one solid table and we currently don’t have any that will work well for that purpose (we could use our main dining table, but we intend to continue to use that for dining and if we repurposed it, we’d be buying a new dining table). So, this has left me looking for a good table for a game room.

I want a sturdy table that will last for a very long time, meaning I want one made of solid wood that’s well constructed. I’d also like the table to have some features that make it work well for tabletop games – it shouldn’t be too far across the table, but it needs to be big enough to hold a sprawling game. Easy access to beverages without them being right on the table would be very nice, too.

In looking around for ideas for this, several friends pointed me toward this company. I had the chance to examine several of their tables recently and I fell in love. Some of their products are basically perfect for what I’m looking for.

The price tag, though? Painful is an understatement.

Here’s where things get tricky. It would be really, really easy to get “tunnel vision” at this point and begin to focus obsessively on one of those tables. I could keep gazing at their website, imagining one of those tables in my dream home. I’d add in details – friends sitting around it, enjoying each other’s company while playing a game.

Eventually, I’d reach a point where the desire would become overwhelming and I’d decide that I must have this table. At that point, I’d find myself clicking the “buy” button, deciding that I’d figure out how to pay for it later.

Why would I envision that? I used to do it all the time – and I know from talking to readers and reading other articles that many, many people do that very thing. We get caught up in something we perceive as a need, we find the “perfect” solution for it even though that solution is really expensive, and then we talk ourselves into buying it.

Sure, this is another “want versus need” situation, but it’s worse than that. Once that “perfect” solution is found, tunnel vision will often set in and other solutions aren’t even seen, let alone considered.

How do you stop that?

For me, the first method of breaking the cycle is simple. Can I find the same product for a better price elsewhere? Even if the item is basically one-of-a-kind, you can still look around and see if you can find someone who can make you the same thing locally.

This first step is a good one because it doesn’t introduce any compromise on the item itself. All I’m doing is looking for ways to have that exact item at a lower price.

What inevitably happens as I shop around is that I see similar items at much better prices. For example, with the above table, I asked around with a local woodworking group and a few people pointed me to a local woodworker who looked at the designs and said he could make me a duplicate of the table I was looking at for about 30% less. He also pointed me to something similar he could make that would cost about 70% less than the desired table just by losing a couple minor features. It’s still basically the same table, but it would cost 70% less.

I’ve also found success when simply browsing for ideas. Not too long ago, I went to a furniture store and found a table that was surprisingly similar to the table I was looking at for about 75% less. I wasn’t particularly looking for a table, but I was surprised to find such a similar one.

I found several options that will save me a mint essentially without compromising on what I liked about the table.

I’ve gone through the same process with many items: computer tablets, work desks, and work chairs, to name a few. I’ll find an item that’s “perfect” and, for a while, I’ll get “tunnel vision” with that item. The first step is to simply shop around for that same exact item, but in the process, I almost always find similar items that are functionally equivalent. By doing that, I usually end up saving a ton of money and wind up not compromising on the aspects that matter.

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The Best Credit Cards for College Students in 2014

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Student credit cards are instrumental for building good credit early on. If you select a card that specifically caters to the unique circumstances of college students, it can pay off big in the future in terms of a healthy credit score and the valuable experience that comes with responsible card use.

After analyzing the best credit cards for college students, I identified the Discover it® for Students as the superior option.

The Discover it® for Students card ranks first among the best student credit cards because it offers virtually everything a college student needs to build good credit, which is critical for future loans and job placements.

What Features Make an Excellent Student Credit Card?

• Easy approval. Understanding that college students have not had the time to build a robust credit score, the card accepts credit scores in the 600 range (out of 900).


• Superb reputation among current users. The card garners top reviews on third-party websites as well as its own.


• No recurring fees. There is no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, nor any other yearly fee.


• Rewards. The card offers cash-back or rewards points for purchases all year round and/or in rotating quarterly categories, preferably those that are relevant to the college-student lifestyle.


• Forgiveness for first-time errors. The card does not charge a fee or implement a higher APR for a first-time late payment. Additionally, the Purchase Intro APR is 0% for six-plus months to provide a student ample time to “practice” responsible card use, making sure they pay off the full balance on time without paying interest.


• Tools to help novice credit-card users understand their spending. The card offers tables, lists, and charts to help college students gain insight into their spending habits and learn to adjust as needed.


• Credit score education. The card offers free FICO scores so students learn how to raise their scores early on.


• Excellent customer service. Phone representatives provide thorough information to students who are just learning about credit-card use.


• Protection. $0 fraud liability is offered so the student won’t be responsible for any fraudulent transactions made on the account.

Why Discover it® for Students is #1

Based on the online customer reviews on Discover.com, college students are thrilled with the card. The average credit score approved for the card is 672 and the lowest credit score approved for the card is 629 (as of January 2014), indicating it’s not too difficult to get accepted.

With the Discover it® for Students card, you can log in to your online account to find charts illustrating the types of items purchased and how much you spend on average. On top of that, they provide a free FICO® Credit Score on your monthly statement to help you stay on top of your credit.

Discover also offers some of the most helpful customer support, with U.S.-based representatives who thoughtfully answer novice questions and help grow your credit knowledge over time.

Discover it® for Students — Card Details:

• Fair. No annual fee. No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee. No late fee on your first late payment. And paying late won’t increase your APR.*


• Generous. 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in Restaurant and Movie purchases from January through March 2014 with free and easy sign-up. And 1% cash back on all other purchases.*


• Human. Talk to a real person any time with 100% U.S.-based service.


• Safe. Because you’re never responsible for unauthorized purchases with our $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee.


• Plus, free FICO® Credit Score on your monthly statement to help you stay on top of your credit.*


• 0% intro APR* on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 12.99% – 21.99%.*

3 Other Student Credit Cards Worth Considering

Citi Forward® Card for College Students

Signup Bonus APR: Earn 2,500 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $500 within the first 3 months of cardmembership.

APR Promotions: 0% Intro APR for 7 months on Purchases

Annual Fee: $0*

Variable* APR: 13.99%-23.99%* (Variable)

• Watch your interest rate go down and your ThankYou® Points go up


• 2,500 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $500 within the first 3 months of cardmembership


• 1 ThankYou® Point for every $1 you spend


• Earn up to 2% Purchase APR reduction, when you make a purchase, stay below your credit limit and pay on time 3 billing periods in a row (0.25% each quarter 8X maximum)


• Earn up to 1,200 bonus ThankYou® Points for paying on time and staying under your credit limit


• Flexible billing options


• No Annual Fee

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One®

Signing Promotion: Get 1% cash back on all purchases, plus a 25% bonus each month you pay your bill on time.

Annual Fee: $0

APR, Variable: APR: 19.8% (V)

• Designed to help students build good credit with responsible use


• Access to your monthly credit score, plus an interactive tracking tool to help monitor your credit


• Customizable text and e-mail alerts to help keep you on track


• Get 1% cash back on all purchases, plus a 25% bonus each month you pay your bill on time


• No annual fee


• $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen

Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card for College Students

Purchase Intro APR: 7 months* 0%*

Annual Fee: $0

Purchase Regular APR: 13.99% – 23.99%* Variable

• Build credit while earning cash back fast


• Earn 5% cash back every quarter in must-have categories like department stores, travel and more, enrollment each quarter is quick and easy


• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases


• Choose your payment due date


• Manage your account online, on your tablet or on your Smartphone


• No Annual Fee

Credit Card Act of 2009: How It Impacts College Students

Under the Credit Card Act, students between ages 18-21 only qualify for a credit card if:

• a parent/guardian, spouse, or another adult is willing to co-sign.


• you submit proof of income and financial history proving a full-time income (or even a part-time income that’s sufficient enough to pay the balance each month).

Make sure you research and discuss this with the appropriate person before applying for a card, especially if you do not have a steady income.

6 Top Credit Card Tips for College Students

Pay your bills on time, every time. Do not take this lightly! On-time bill payments account for a whopping 35% of your credit score. Set up automatic payments to ensure you never forget. When you do, also make sure your checking account from which you make your payments always carries sufficient funds.

Always spend less than what you can afford. As a first-time credit-card user, it might be easy to view credit as money you do have, but it’s actually money you don’t have yet. After determining your budget and accounting for necessities, such as rent, aim to spend much less than what you make for everything else.

Don’t spend too close to your credit limit. In fact, keep that percentage as low as possible. According to myFICO.com, amounts owed on credit accounts determine 30% of your score.

Start off with just 1-2 cards. As a student, your main goal should be to “practice” using a credit card responsibly. Chances are you have absolutely no need for 4-5 cards. Focus on just 1-2 cards and paying your bills on time.

Check your credit report yearly. Every year, obtain a free copy of each of your three credit reports, from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, at AnnualCreditReport.com. Make sure all the information is accurate. Getting into this habit will do you good in the long run when your credit report begins to fill up with more and more credit history.

Keep track of your credit score. Separate from your credit report, your credit score is the number lenders use to determine your creditworthiness. This number is incredibly important, so make sure you check it yearly. Fortunately, student cards like Discover it® for Students offer a free FICO score with each monthly statement.

Regardless of which you choose, all the best student credit cards aim to help college students build the foundation for a healthy credit record. Other benefits, such as cash-back rewards and knowledge building, also contribute to creating responsible and highly aware credit card owners.

If you want to go with the most solid option on the market today, definitely go with the Discover it® for Students first.

Written by Sarah Ban

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