Last year, approximately 2 million students graduated from high school and headed to college. Most were equipped with bedding and books, but many were ill-equipped on the topic of financial literacy. According to a 2007 survey by Charles Schwab, fewer than half of teens considered themselves knowledgeable on how to budget money (41 percent), how to pay bills (34 percent) or how credit card interest and fees work (26 percent).

College years are the time when many young adults establish habits they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, and while it's important that they tackle academics, it's also critical that they learn everyday skills -- such as how to manage their money -- in order to become successful in life. Aside from leading by example, parents have an active role to play in ensuring their children are equipped to handle their own finances away from home.

The Better Business Bureau can help. BBB recommends that before parents wave goodbye to their college-bound offspring, they sit down and discuss four key rules for managing personal finances:

BE RESPONSIBLE WITH CREDIT CARDS. According to a U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) survey, two out of three college students report having a credit card. Of those, only about two-thirds are responsible for paying their monthly bill. Overall, freshmen responsible for their own cards had average credit card balances of $1,301.

While having a credit card is an important first step for a college student to start building a credit history, parents need to stress the importance of using credit responsibly. This includes having a minimal number of credit cards, paying off the balances every month and keeping a rein on spending.

DEVELOP good saving habits EARLY. This will help a college student reap the benefits throughout his or her life. Aside from the inherent benefits of saving money, starting early means taking advantage of what Albert Einstein described as one of the most powerful forces in the universe: compound interest.

For example, if a freshman saves $50 every month and puts it into a high interest savings account or money market account that earns 5 percent interest, by graduation, they'll have saved more than $2,660 including dividends. If they continue to save $50 every month at 5 percent interest, in 25 years, they'll have saved nearly $15,000 and reaped another $15,000 in dividends.

PAY YOUR BILLS ON TIME. U.S. PIRG found that more that 40 percent of college students who managed their own credit cards had paid bills late or paid at least one over-the-limit fee. Credit card companies often charge late fees as high as $40. Add to that any accruing interest, which can be upwards of 30 percent, and college students will quickly see how much can be lost by not paying a bill on time and in full.

Aside from the immediate benefits of paying bills on time -- specifically, reducing needless spending on fees and interest charges -- it is an important way for college students to begin building a healthy credit report.

GUARD YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. When comparing the age demographics of ID theft victims in the U.S., young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 were the second highest age group at risk for fraud, according to an annual survey by Javelin Strategy and Research. Javelin also found that, in cases where the victims knew how their ID was stolen, 79 percent of the time it was stolen by someone they had contact with; therefore, preventing ID theft is important both online and offline. Parents should encourage their children to shred unnecessary documents that include personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers and keep a close watch over credit and debit cards and checkbooks.

For more information on preventing ID theft online and for general ID theft prevention measures, visit the BBB Web site. For other BBB advice on managing personal finances, go to www.bbb.org.

KELVIN COLLINS IS PRESIDENT/CEO OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF CENTRAL GEORGIA & THE CSRA INC. Questions or complaints about a specific company or charity should be referred directly to the BBB at (800) 763-4222 or www.bbb.org or via e-mail at info@centralgeorgia. bbb.org or info@csra.bbb.org.