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I think that the idea of teens having credit cards is not without some merit. However, the instances in which they have them should be established. For example, if a teen has a history of being consistently responsible at home and elsewhere, is hard working and has held down a job for at least three months, they should start with a credit card with limitations.

I think the best learning experience can be one where a person learns by consequences. If teens have to pay off their own bill each month, there can be no better way to learn about regular and consistent bill paying, as well as the necessity of keeping up with payments in general. The important part is to ensure a parent does not jump in to rescue the teen financially; and this needs to be discussed ahead of time (just as the fine print needs to be read before signing up for a card) so the teen understands there is a need to communicate with creditors, or even have a backup plan.

One of the best ways to decide whether or not a teen is able to manage the responsibility of a credit card will be to know the teen in question. Just as all adults are not as responsible as others, so it goes with teens, and the fact that someone else's teen is financially inept does not mean yours or mine will be (and vice versa).

I do not think this should be a gift given indiscriminately, but something a teen has earned the right to possess, by virtue of their own hard work and maturity.

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