Ah, the spring of 1996. I remember it well. I was a freshman in college, ready to take on the world. That particular season holds dear memories for me. I rushed and joined my sorority. I turned 19. Oh yeah… and I got my first credit card.
They say you always remember your first (wink, wink) and I definitely do. It was a Visa. A beautiful, wonderful Visa card and it was mine. My name was emblazoned on it in big bold letters, so it must be true! And the nice people who approved me for the card, gave me a limit to the monetary wonderfulness so that I would be smart with the card. Not spend it on stupid purchases; just for emergencies, got it.
Ah life, how you mock me. Stupid purchases and emergencies somehow became synonymous and interchangeable. Where there was one, there was the other. I had to survive didn’t I? Books for school, gas to go to school, food to eat at school; that was just the beginning. Then it was clothes, shoes, movies, CD’s, social events, you name it. And let’s not forget my lovely sorority. It costs quite a pretty penny to be in a sorority or fraternity. The dollar signs began to add up rather quickly.
That glossy shiny card became the bane of my existence. And let’s not forget the slinky. Oh, did I not mention that part? Oh yes, my sisters and I signed up for our credit cards at a booth just outside our campus bookstore and received our free gift. A pink and purple slinky. I cringe, even writing that. But I digress…
I’d like to think that I have grown financially as a person since that heady Spring of ’96. That girl who rocked to No Doubt on her way to class still likes an old Gwen song now and then. But I don’t buy music on credit. Unsecured debt, a completely abstract term to that college freshman of long ago, is very much a term I know and understand. The woman I am now, cannot fathom the exorbitant amount of money that was spent on sorority life. But the girl I was, relished every moment.
And life is like that. Full of experiences that sometimes you just shake your head at. And the Spring of 1996 is like that for me. A season that changed my life personally and financially…but please don’t ask me what became of the infamous slinky. I have no idea. And I cringe writing that too.
It’s a little disgusting how much companies market credit cards to college kids; especially when we learn almost nothing about them in high school or before that point. Fortunately, as grown ups, there are a lot of really good cash back deals and things to take advantage of if you can stay disciplined with your usage. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, I agree with you. I think college kids are especially vulnerable to credit card companies because of all the expenses that are school related. And these credit card companies know it. 😦
I could have written this exact post. Spring 1996 was exactly the same for me…freshman year of college, rushing my sorority, getting a credit card. It was a busy few months!
I cringe a little at how much I spent on my sorority. I don’t know that I’d take it back but it does make me a little sad.
Also, No Doubt? Kicks ass!
Sorority life was fun and I have great memories, but the money! Oh man…I don’t know how many t-shirts and sweatshirts I had by the time all was said and done 🙂
[…] told you how I used to be an emotional shopper, and back in college, credit cards were something to be dealt with later. Even after college, I still didn’t have […]