Credit queen - pre-paid cash cards teach girls to manage credit

Girls' Life, Dec, 2000

You've heard of doing extra credit to bring up your history grade. But, at 13, you can establish good financial credit with pre-paid cash cards. The average credit card balance of an undergard college student is $1,843. That's way high! It's time girls become keen money managers before they leave home.

With parents' supervision, teens are eligible for a Visa Buxx, Pocketcard, Cobaltcard or M2card. How does it works? The rents transfer a limited amount of dough onto your card, and they can set a spending value on your purchases-if Dad doesn't want you buying a sweater over $20, it's impossible. Use the cash cards at stores where Visa is accepted, on-line and at ATMs. The best perk? Most cards have no annual fee or finance charge. The M2card even has a reward program. Each dollar spent accrues M2points, which can be redeemed for products. While some girls may see this as an all-access pass to cash, the idea is to teach girls how to be responsible consumers. For more info about the cards, log on to www.visabuxx. com, www.cobaltcard.com, www.pocketcard.com or www. M2card.com. Don't leave home without it.