Many people are thinking about getting their first credit card when they go to university or get a job as a new member of society. Your first purchase will become a very important partner in building your future credit history. Here, we will explain tips on how to choose and use cards wisely, focusing on the ``Three Bad Things You Should Avoid’’ to avoid making mistakes in managing your money in your new life.

❌ Bad behavior 1: Random selection based only on appearance and design

If it features your favorite anime character or has a stylish design, you’ll be drawn to it. However, it is dangerous to make decisions based on that alone. Prioritize practicality, such as Is the annual membership fee forever free?'' Is it easy to accumulate points at the stores you frequent (convenience stores, supermarkets, online shops such as Amazon)?’’ ``Is it easy to use the accumulated points in your living area?’’ The correct answer is to think of design as just an “extra”.

❌ Bad behavior 2: Setting up revolving payment without understanding how it works

There are often attractive campaigns such as ``Just set your payment method to revolving payment and you will receive 5,000 points!’’ when signing up. However, in exchange for revolving payments, which keep monthly payments to a fixed amount, extremely high fees (interest rate: approximately 15% per year) are incurred. As a result of setting the points to get points, the debt and interest increases without realizing it, and there is no end to young people who are struggling to repay the debt. At first, be sure to select only the “lump payment” option and make sure that you do not make purchases that exceed your ability to pay.

❌ Bad behavior 3: Trying to set the limit unnecessarily high from the beginning

For students and new employees, the initial shopping limit is generally set at around 100,000 yen to 300,000 yen. We do not recommend applying for an unreasonably high limit (500,000 yen or 1 million yen) because you might be going on a trip overseas or making a big purchase. If the credit limit is too high, there is a risk that the amount of damage will be large if the card is lost or fraudulently used online. The smartest and safest way to use your credit card is to keep it to the minimum amount necessary, and only for special events such as overseas trips by calling your credit card company and asking for a “temporary increase.”

Your first credit card is a convenient and powerful tool to help you live an independent life. Don’t rush, choose one that fits your lifestyle and learn how to use it correctly.