We all know credit cards are alluring.

As broke college students, the urge to be able to spend with what seems like no consequences is the best idea ever.

However, students need to think twice before signing off one of those temptations in the mail.

I do not have a credit card of my own. I have a debit card, but not credit.

Having a debit card forces me to organize my budget and stay on top of my funds. I see the immediate backlash of my spending. No overspending or crazy online shopping sprees for me.

Credit cards are like Pandora’s box. The second you open them, the worse it gets and the problem will keep growing.

What seemed like a good idea instead turned black as you can’t pay the bills from buying rounds of drinks every weekend or taking a road trip to the city for a show.

The credit card becomes your worst enemy as its temptation continues to drain you. It drains you not only financially, but also adds the stress of worrying about debt.

Now, we all want to build our credit. We want to be able to leave college and get an apartment or car. It takes a great deal of responsibility and determination to build your credit score.

Some students are finding loans an easier way to build credit, especially if your parents are helping.

Overall good advice, wait until at least your junior year to get a credit card.

Use the first two years of college learning how to manage finances. Many times as a freshmen or sophomore, you do not have a steady income. This is another reason to wait.

Steady incomes are needed to support the spending that comes along with a credit card.

Once you get a credit card, do not memorize the number. I know many who have done this and it has become more of an issue and more prone to spending sprees, especially online.

It really is all about control. A credit card in your pocket aids in losing control of finances. Without one, the temptation is not there.

The scary part of credit cards is the fact that having one issue in college paying the bill will keep with you for life. You will ruin your credit score instead of building it.

So many in recent years have gotten into problems with credit cards by either having too many cards or simply spending more than they earned.

Don’t get caught in the vicious cycle of credit cards. Do not open the box. Do not pass go.

Get a good job and wait until the end of your college years to worry about building credit.

If really needed, get a debit card and watch your spending.

Figure out your spending habits and set up a budget. Be smart about your spending and you’ll be ok.