With all the attention given to student sexual health on campus, it seems that the lessons on good financial health are completely overlooked.

San Diego State University student Kelly Gardner has a very smart review of handling taxes, credit cards, and other fiscal life skills that are often under appreciated by young people until its too late.

…Next, let’s talk about the next step in financial responsibility–building credit. We’ll go over the basics. Credit is described by Experian as “borrowed money that you can use to purchase goods and services when you need them.”

Credit is earned when someone uses a credit card, which can be either good or bad. Building good credit is essentially building credibility. When you charge expenses to your card and pay them off by the due date, you are showing the credit card company that you are reliable, earning you good credit. On the other hand, if you were to miss several payments your credit score would be negatively affected. Having good credit is essential. In the future it will allow you to apply for bank loans, purchase a house or car and get lower interest rates.

Having a credit card is a big step and you should only take it if you feel responsible enough to manage your finances on a more complex level. That being said, here are a few final tips to help set you up for success. Begin by choosing a credit card that is realistic for you. There are plenty of student-aimed credit cards that offer 0 percent interest rates for the first 7-18 months. Also, choose a card that offers rewards such as cash back or gas rewards–you are more likely to actually spend enough to earn those rewards. And to keep all your expenses in check, learn how to use an Excel spreadsheet at the most basic level. Spreadsheets will help you balance your checkbook and keep track of expenses, such as what you’ve paid off and what you haven’t.

Being financially savvy is pretty simple and it just takes a few simple skills. And while taxes and financial statements are not the most exciting, managing them properly from the beginning will benefit you immensely in the long run. Let’s be a generation of savvy spenders so we can put an end to this trend of never-ending debt.