you can directly link paypal to your bank accounts and don't necessarily need a credit card.
in fact, some people can't even accept credit card payments over paypal because they don't have the proper business account to accept such things (you have to pay paypal a fee for accepting payments made with people's credit cards).
paypal will also limit the amount you can send using credit cards until you "verify" your account by giving paypal your personal bank account information.
(I have not personally done this because my spending limit on paypal is like $2,000, I barely use it and so they don't need my bank account as backup or whatever).
(btw, when you get to college and buy your books, they are gonna stuff your books at the register with tons of offers from different credit card companies trying to get you to sign up. some credit card companies may even hold a booth at your school and give out free stuff if you get a membership, so don't you worry, you'll be rolling in credit cards in no time. hehe)
