- 21-year-old Skylar Griffin has four credit cards, including and AmEx Gold and Platinum.
- She got her first credit card as a freshman to build up her credit score and kept a strict budget.
- Griffin now uses her AmEx cards to earn points for travel costs and flew to Japan for free.
This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Skylar Griffin, a 21-year-old college student in Georgia. Griffin financial claims have been verified with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
When I was a child, my mom often shared financial advice. She told us never to cosign for someone's loan and don't buy anything unless we could buy it twice.
On several occasions, she advised us kids never to get a credit card unless we were responsible enough to pay it off each month.
She didn't want us to struggle financially like she did as a single parent.
In high school, I started watching YouTube videos about finances. I saw financial struggles firsthand, and I didn't want to be in that position as an adult. The videos taught me I'd need to build up my credit score to buy a car or a house or if I might need a loan.
I got my first credit card before going to college
In July 2021, I was preparing to study business management at Columbus State University in the fall.
Without my mom's knowledge, I ordered a Bank of America student card. It was a Visa card with no annual fees. My mom wasn't happy. I reassured her I'd done my research and could handle the responsibility.
During college, I worked at a call center during the school year, paid internships in the summer, and received refund checks because my scholarship was more than school costs. I also earned a bit of money doing social media content.
My first card had a limit of $500. I would buy little things here and there, making sure I had enough in my checking or savings account to pay it off each month.
I'd marked all the due dates in my calendar, and I was never late for a credit card payment. There were temptations to buy new clothes or tech, but I always fought it.
Getting an AmEx for the travel points
I kept using the Bank of America card throughout my freshman and sophomore years of college, but in April 2023, I decided to take out an Amex Gold card as well.
I'd heard about travel credit cards through watching financial advice videos online. If I used this card for buying groceries or dining out, my two main expenses in college, I would get four times the points to use on travel.
Although I wasn't traveling much, I planned to travel. At the time, the card had a $250 annual fee, which was worth it for the points I felt.
I only used my card for things I needed or had saved for. I never bought things just to earn points.
In March 2024, I took a big leap and opened an Amex Platinum credit card. It comes with a high price tag — a $695 annual fee — but I thought the benefits outweighed the price. Because it was another Amex card, all of my points were added to the points earned from the Amex Gold.
I only use this card for booking flights and hotels because this is what I get the highest points for. With the card, I get five times the points when booking flights and hotels, a $200 yearly airline credit, and a $200 yearly hotel credit.
When I stay at Marriott or Hilton, I get 'high status' and often get my room upgraded. But my favourite perk is the CLEAR Plus membership which gets me through TSA quicker at the airport.
I knew I was planning some big trips in 2024 to Japan and New York, and then a cruise to the Bahamas, so planned to make all my travel purchases on the Platinum. Since getting an Amex, I've been able to fly to Japan, New York, and Miami for free in 2024.
With this card, I accessed airport lounges on the long trip to Japan and was part of the President's Circle with Hertz Car Rentals, so I was guaranteed a car upgrade when I rented a car to get around the country.
I took out a fourth credit card so I could earn points for other purchases
In June 2024, I decided to take out another Amex card — the Amex Blue Business Plus. This card means I can earn points paying for things like gas, that don't earn me points on my other cards.
There's no annual fee, and I could only take it out because I'm considered a sole proprietor. I own a Mercari shop where I resell vintage clothes I find at flea markets.
I only use my Bank of America card when Amex isn't accepted. I never use a debit card unless I'm pulling cash out of the bank.
Even though I am confident and comfortable using credit cards, I still don't spend anything that isn't in my checking or savings account. I never base a purchase on the money that I'm expecting in my account, because you never know how finances could change.
I put all my due dates in my calendar and aim to pay each of them off earlier than required. Sometimes, I feel the urge to overspend. But then I remember the interest rates on my cards, and I snap back to reality. Paying high interest because I can't afford to pay my bill in full is not worth the momentary satisfaction of shopping.
In addition to all the benefits I've received when traveling, my credit cards helped me raise my credit score to 755.
I never stop learning about finance
I think college students should consider getting a student credit card with no fee. They have low limits and can help start building a credit score. However, if you're impulsive or have poor spending habits, I wouldn't recommend it.
My mom now says she's proud of how I manage my finances. I've always found personal finance interesting and the concepts easy to understand, but it takes dedication to stay on track financially. I never stop learning to make sure I'm doing what's best for my financial future.