You are off to college and away from the rules and restrictions that come with living with your parents. The world is your oyster and you will in inundated with credit card offers that enable you to buy the pearl or the pizza.

I'm getting credit card offers in the mail. How do they know I'm a student?

There are a variety of ways, but one of the most shocking is that some colleges sell their student lists to credit card companies. Many schools have exclusive marketing agreements with one credit card issuer for which they receive compensation.

There are even credit card booths set up on campus. How do I choose a good credit card?

Read the application papers very carefully. Make sure you are not paying any fees for the privilege of having a credit card. Watch out for zero or low interest introduction rates; once the introduction period is over with, interest rates are often quite high. You will pay higher interest than someone with established credit. Expect to pay around 17.51% APR (Annual Percentage Rate). Don't opt for the cash advance feature; fees and interest on this are very high.

Should I even have a credit card?

That is ultimately up to you but, if you handle it wisely, a credit card is a good way to establish credit for when you want to buy a car or a house. Gerri Detweiler, Adviser for Debt Counselors of America says, "The best reference you'll find on a credit report is a major credit card paid on time."

How should I handle my card responsibly?

Make at least a rough budget plan and stick to it. Your credit card should not be a part of the plan unless you have had a real financial emergency and had to use it. In that case, budget for payments as large as you possibly can. If you pay only the minimum, you may retire before you pay off the card. Make sure your payments are on time. If they aren't, interest is jacked up and there are late fees.

That first credit card is often heady and the money charged often doesn't feel like real money. You can run up a bill very quickly by using it to eat out, get that cute outfit, or buy a really nice birthday gift for a new friend. You should try limiting the card to one or two small purchases a month and save it for a real financial emergency. No, going to Palm Springs for spring break is not a real emergency.