Question: Rev Louder. My teenagers are starting to receive credit card offers. I’m really concerned that they will get trapped by easy credit. HELP, what can I do? Response: You have good reason to be concerned. Youth today, particularly college students, are one of the major targets for credit card companies. What can you do? I suggest you teach your older children (16 and older) how to handle credit cards by letting them have and use ONE card of their own (regular credit card or a pre-paid credit card) while they are still at home and under your supervision. I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with credit cards. Data shows that it’s the way the cards are used that causes the problems. Now, what do i mean by “supervision”? Set firm rules and stick to them. For example: (1) Require your teens to have and use (and have your constantly review) monthly budgets. (2) Don’t let them charge anything that’s not on their budget. (3) ENSURE that they pay their credit card bill in full each month. (4) The FIRST month they can’t/don’t pay off their card bill in full, destroy the card, cancel the account, and don’t allow them to get another. (5) Let your teens know that these are the same rules you follow and why. It’s important to explain (no debate) these rules in advance. Then, stick to the rules. You will be helping your teens form habits that will serve them well when they are no longer under your roof or under your authority. Remember Proverbs 22:6–“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Like Larry Burkett used to say, “Establish fair rules, enforce them consistently, and be firm”