Kids these days grow up so darn fast! When I was younger, I didn’t have a care in the world. I would run around outside for hours, playing games and hanging out with friends. The only time I needed money was if I had a hankering for a Slurpee from 7Eleven. In 2011, it’s different for most adolescents. Online games, iTunes, and $0.99 apps are everywhere, and they all require a credit card. Even those activities of the past cost money now. A child making payments, especially with a credit card, seems somewhat laughable, but it’s a reality.

NFC chip technology is a market with huge potential for growth as smartphones and other mobile devices begin to replace cash and plastic in consumers’ wallets. In fact, there are some stepping stone applications which are particularly noteworthy in the move toward mobile credit card authorization. One company that can't be overlooked is Squareup.com, or “Square” as it's commonly called. Founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Square is nothing more than a shift away from the traditional use of credit card authorization terminals. Traditionally, credit card merchant services have been set aside for business-only transactions with a hard-wired connection. But what about the guy who runs a taco stand? What about if you want to split the tab on your dinner at Applebee's with a couple of friends? Square has not only helped to solve an immediate pain point, but has also done an excellent job in taking credit card merchant services to a completely untapped market segment: the consumer.

Jedi fans will be roaming college campuses and city streets tomorrow wielding lightsabers and sporting their most authentic costumes in celebration of the unofficial Star Wars Day, May 4th.

Stemming from a play on one of the film's most popular quotes, "May the Force be with you", fans worldwide have twisted the phrase into "May the 4th be with you" and set aside this day to honor all things Star Wars. So don't be alarmed if you see people speaking weird guttural languages to each other, trying to open their car doors using the Force, or acting like their arm just got cut off in a lightsaber duel. It's all part of the fun.

For a true Star Wars fan, however, the celebration lasts longer than a single day.  You may have been embarrassed about your obsession with Jar Jar Binks action figures when you were in high school, but now that you're in college, there's no shame in letting your true colors shine through. In fact, there's nothing quite like surrounding yourself year round with the best Star Wars memorabilia student credit cards can buy.

Here are five collectibles that are sure to draw the envy of your fellow Star Wars geeks for many years to come:

1.) Yoda Backpack

Let’s face it, the credit industry is complex and confusing. Hundreds of credit cards offer different ratios for miles, points, percentages of cash back, and other rewards. And now that we’ve gone through a roller coaster of a recession, getting approved for these cards may seem impossible for many of us. I work daily with clients who want and need the use of a credit card. As many of their financial situations have been pummeled, rebuilding credit is the first step they must take. One of the most common misconceptions about credit that I encounter centers around three words: prepaid credit cards.