The line between going shopping and being addicted is a fine one. I have had to cut a card once. Many stores offer customers the opportunity to open a charge with their establishment in order to receive immediate savings and promotions. Most department stores offer between 10 and 20 percent to new card openers if they pay with a newly opened charge rather than cash or another credit company. Opening accounts this way can allow for students to hold dozens of accounts, and find their spending out of control.
Many students do go overboard with charges, and end up paying the price.
While he never owned a charge account personally, he once used his parents' credit card number out of desperation. My parents had given me their charge to order tickets for a show. Meigs said he now understands the dangers of credit cards. Not all students run into these traps. Many are able to purchase what they need with credit cards and still remain debt-free.