CollegeCandy » credit score

Let’s face it: we all make stupid decisions. Like choosing a fifth over a review session, or bringing that guy home…who stole our iPod in the morning. That’s part of college life… and a big part of what makes it so memorable. But there are some choices that have longer lasting repercussions; things we do now that will haunt us later.

So here are the 11 things from your 20’s you will most definitely regret when you’re 40.

11. Risque Internet Photos: What’s the point of having technology if you can’t use it to send a naughty pre-shower photo to your BF? Nothing will turn him on quite like a naked photo popping up in his inbox while he’s brushing up on his Stats knowledge. You trust him, so what’s the worst that could happen? How about a break up? Or the “forward” button? No matter what you think, those photos are going to come back and bite you in the (naked-with-a-spot-of-cellulite) ass. Just show him the real thing and let him turn to his imagination (or internet porn) for a mid-class pick me up.

10. Trendy Tats: You totally love butterflies/stars/unicorns now, but I can bet money that you won’t want them plastered on the top of your foot or your lower back forever. No one wants to see a mom with a rose tattoo on her left shoulder, so think before you ink.

9. Choosing guys over your girls: You get caught up in your relationship sometimes and blow off the girls. Fine, we get it. But when sometimes turns into “What the hell ever happened to Mary?” there is a problem. Especially when Mr. Douche Bag finally breaks up with you and you come crawling back to the girls with a tub of Edy’s and a box of tissues and they aren’t there to wipe the snot from your cheek. Do you really want to spend the rest of your days holed up in a dirty apartment watching your man play Rock Band and chug Natty Light? Learn the balance, honey.

8. Getting married too young: I’ve seen it too many times – people graduate, freak out and hold onto whatever they can of their youth. And they get married. And become super lame married people. It may be pure bliss now (and lots and lots of kitchen-ware), but just think about all the awesome stuff you will miss by being tied down in your twenties, all that freedom: to travel when you want, to take a job wherever you want, to sleep with whomever you want, to party as late as you want, to discover yourself, to sleep with whomever you want…. Plus, do you really want pictures of your friends doing keg stands in your wedding album? I thought not.

7. Smoking: Mmmm tobacco. It feels so good when it hits (and consequently blackens) your lungs. Especially after you’ve had a few Rum and Diets. And you look so cool doing it. But you know what doesn’t feel good? Chemo. And you know what doesn’t look cool? Your wrinkley face or your kids stealing the pack from your tobacco stained purse and trying it for the first time. When they are 6. This sh*t will kill you, so stop it. Right now! Seriously, put down that Marlboro Light, sister.

6. Not traveling enough: Trust me on this one – you will never have the time, money or freedom to travel like you do now. Pretty soon you’ll be working late nights and counting down the minutes until the that will be chock full of grocery runs and Bed, Bath and Beyond trips. Try finding time in that busy schedule to jet-set to Europe and “find yourself.” Pack your bags and see the world now, before you’re too old to experiment with drugs in Amsterdam and enjoy a ping pong show in Bangkok. Pick up a travel book and start planning!

5. Bad Credit: You can’t live without that Coach bag right now. You just have to have that DVF dress for the date party. Everyone else has an iPhone and you want one too. You’ll just charge it and worry about it later, right? Wrong, bitches. Ruining your credit now on stupid stuff (yes, I am telling you that bag is a stupid investment) will totally eff things up for you in the future. Things like getting a house, a car, a boyfriend (bad credit is a total turn-off) and sometimes even a job. Spend wisely, ladies. That bag is going to be out of style in .25 seconds anyway.

4. Not finishing school: Do we really even need to mention this one? Could you think of anything you’d regret more when you are 40 and working the checkout lane at your neighborhood Wal-mart? That is, assuming, you can even get that job in this economy.

3. Pre-vacation tanning: You tell yourself that you just want to get a base tan before Spring Break in Cabo. Sure, you will look fiiiine in that white shift dress for the 6 days after you return, but that wrinkley, skin cancer-ed mess is not going to look so hot when you’re 40 and you look like a Sharpei.

2. Stilettos: Part of becoming a woman is rockin’ the hottest pair of the highest heels. They make your legs look sick (that’s a good thing), make the men beg, and your jeans are too long to wear with anything lower. Why wouldn’t you wear them? I’ve got one hyphenated word for you: hammer-toes. You want to spend the later part of your life looking at that in a sandal? Make your Feet Happy with these ultra comfy and cute socks..

(Editor’s note: I was going to put a picture of a gross foot here, but you Google “gross feet in sandals” and tell me how it makes you feel.)

1. “It feels better without condoms” sex: You’ll probably regret this one right off the bat as you spend your senior year chasing a kid around the dorms, but you’ll seriously regret it later when you look back at your life and realize how much you missed out on because you were busy changing diapers and bouncing a kid on your knee. Oh, and no one likes a woman with a bumpy vagina. I’m just sayin’; those genital warts will never go away.

Money Matters: 5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Credit Score

Kathryn S — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:39:36 +0000

It’s easy to throw down your MasterCard and forget about how much your text books cost for the semester; it’s just as simple to open a tab at Happy Hour and let the Bud Light flow. We all eventually realize, however, that college flies by in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, you’ll be on your own.

With the economy in peril, now is an especially good time to start keeping an eye on your credit score so you don’t find yourself denied when you try to open new bank accounts, get a new apartment, condo, or house, or reward yourself for landing your dream job by buying your first brand new car. Maintaining a good credit score doesn’t have to be harder than next Tuesday’s cumulative Calc exam, though– here are five simple steps to stay on top of your financial game.

1. Get a credit card.

This might seem like a no-brainer, but I know a lot of people who are adamantly opposed to credit cards. How they live without them, I don’t know. Personally, I am always prepared to whip one out in case of an emergency (like when my gas tank is below empty and I try my luck at the commuter lot at school). Hey, if you can get by without a credit card, you win my admiration, but you can’t build credit if you never have any to begin with. Get a credit card, and charge a couple small things each month- paying your bill in its entirety will show how well you handle your money.

2. Put your name on the bills.

It’s a luxury to have parents who help you out in college. However, if the ‘rents pay your cell phone bill, sign for your campus housing, or let you drive their car around for four years of higher education, you won’t have very strong credit references when it’s time to get out on your own. Many apartment complexes want to see that you’ve been a good, rent-paying tenant in the past, for example. If you only have your parents’ credit to go by, they might have to co-sign for you as gauranteurs, which still doesn’t necessarily prove how responsible you are when it comes to managing bills and paying off debts. Even if you start small, like keeping a cell phone plan in your name, you’ll be off to a good start.

3. Pay what you can..and pay on time.

Not paying your CC bill will result in a hefty fine, as will paying your rent or other bills by the due date. If you find yourself struggling at the end of the month, prioritize your debts. Pay the car payment in its entirety, and send American Express the $20 minimum payment. Don’t squeak by with small payments every month, though – as far as credit cards go, your score is measured in a ratio of debt vs. available funds. Paying the min will result in a finance charge, which could make your balance stagnant (providing you aren’t spending more each month). So if your credit card limit is $5,000, and your balance has been a steady $4,500 for the past few months, your score will take a hit.

4. Keep old accounts open.

Remember the time you signed up for a card because you wanted a free T-shirt, and then realized you didn’t need a third credit card? Keeping that account open will actually look good on your credit report. If you don’t have to pay a fee to keep it, it won’t hurt anyway. However, if you continually max out your cards, transfer your funds to a new card, and close the first account, your spending will look sporadic and unorganized. Really, you can avoid this altogether by finding one or two really good credit card deals that you can use for years, but if you’ve paid off your debts on one card and really want the Delta Skymiles Platinum so you can earn enough rewards to fly to Hawaii this summer, there’s no reason to reach for the scissors just yet.

5. Keep an eye on your credit score.

This way, there won’t be any surprises. If you see your score start to slip, you’ll be aware and can re-anaylze your spending and try to get those numbers back into good standing. You’ll also be able to monitor your activity and prevent fraud, identity theft, or unwarranted charges. Check out FreeCreditReport.com or speak to a financial expert to figure out where you stand right now.

Getting into these simple habits won’t just help you establish a good credit report while you’re still young, but you’ll start to develop healthier spending habits to keep your credit shining as you begin your real adult life of mortgages, car payments, and starting a family. Really, these things should come naturally, but are overlooked by millions of people, young and old, across the country.

And hey, it’s quicker than checking a Facebook minifeed, so what are you waiting for? Fill out your first credit card application, check your payment due dates, and try to get an idea of where you stand in the realm of debt and credit.