Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a credit card for 21yo?!

58 replies

Blueeberry · 22/03/2026 18:56

Is it possible? DD is heading off to uni in September and would like a low limit credit card. She’s sensible - would be useful for emergencies but primarily would like to use instead of her debit card and then just pay it off at the end of each month. I think it would be a useful way of keeping track of her spending, alongside building her credit score & earning air miles (she’s a frequent traveller). Having travel insurance included would also be a huge bonus and save money in the long run.

Her earnings are around £8k/year from her part time job alongside her student loan and a £5k course specific bursary. Is it a possibility at all or am I looking for some sort of unicorn card?

OP posts:
Bunnybigears · 22/03/2026 19:15

It's good to have a credit card to build a credit history but I don't think the time when they start University is the best time to be doing it. There will be a lot of financial pressure on her as well as peer pressure and she could end up spending more than she can pay off especially if she is living out of the family home.

My DS has just got his first credit card at 18 but he works full time earning good money and still lives at home. He will only be using it for petrol and paying it off at the end of the month. It's to build his credit score for when he wants a mortgage.

I don't understand the keeping track of money part of OPs post as you can do that just as easily with a bank account.

Octavia64 · 22/03/2026 19:14

Many credit cards offer a student versions

Amira83 · 22/03/2026 19:14

She will.ne paying interest every month though so what would be the point in that ? I always advise my adult children against credit, not for it. And none of them have any debts at all as they all prefer to live within a budget rather than get into debt which is a slippery slope.
Instead help her devise a weekly budget that she can stick to. That way she can afford things and have fun within limits, without getting into debt.

JehovasFitness · 22/03/2026 19:11

Does OP mean for her to keep track, or her daughter?

I do all my spending on an AMEX to bank the cashback. I pay it in full every month. It’s great. Not sure it would have suited me at uni but that’s up to your daughter to figure out.

BudgetBuster · 22/03/2026 19:09

She's 21... firstly she needs to be in control of her own finances. Her parent should not be keeping track of her spending (unless some underlying learning disabilities or something you haven't mentioned).

Secondly, if she can't manage her finances without her parent checking up... she definitely should not have a credit card.

Lemonfrost · 22/03/2026 19:07

Miranda65 · 22/03/2026 19:05

At 21 she should be getting her own credit card, and no way should her parent be "keeping track of her spending"!

Yep - she is an adult and responsible for her own finances.

Miranda65 · 22/03/2026 19:05

At 21 she should be getting her own credit card, and no way should her parent be "keeping track of her spending"!

takealettermsjones · 22/03/2026 19:05

I am not an expert, but I'd say be careful. While it's a good way to build credit, she may not be eligible on that income, and being rejected (or applying multiple times) could hurt her credit score.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/your-first-credit-card/

Swipe left for the next trending thread