The best way to use a credit card is to not use it at all, really, unless you are already a responsible spender. If you live from paycheck to paycheck like a lot of people do and have trouble paying bills on time simply because you spend money on things you do not need, then getting a credit card is probably a bad idea until you learn to manage your finances better.
You need to be able to manage your own money before you start managing a line of credit, because you are paying interest on anything you put on that line. Interest can be as much as 20% or more and it could take you years and years to pay off a balance of a card that is maxed out if you only pay the minimum payment every month.
Another thing that can be bad about credit cards is the typical cash advance feature. If you need cash to use while you are out, get it from your debit card, NOT your credit card. You will pay interest and probably a fee to get cash from your credit card, while your debit card will only withdraw funds from your checking account.
You should beware even with debit cards, however, and make sure you have enough money in that account to withdraw what you want to withdraw because many debit cards these days will allow you to overdraw and you will be subject to an overdraft fee. This is sneaky on the bank's part simply because the transaction could be stopped for insufficient funds, but is not, so you assume that since the transaction went through, you had enough money.
A good thing about some credit cards is the existence of reward programs. I tend to use my credit cards for any and everything I possibly can to reap the reward points as much as possible, but unless you have a sound cushion of savings and enough income to manage the card payments every month, avoid this practice. You can overspend very quickly if you are not careful and the reward points will not be worth it in the long run.
Another drawback is that if your card is stolen, the thief instantly has access to your credit and, if your debit card is in the same wallet, your bank account. Fortunately, though, you can cancel your credit cards; you cannot cancel cash. Unless you know you will need it, leave your debit card at home.
How To Pay Off Credit Card
Today it is very common to think of credit cards as one of the major causes of so many people getting in debt. While that certainly is true for some, it may come as a surprise to you to know that by using a credit card in a certain way, that you could actually get sizable savings. Here are some tips for getting the maximum benefits of your credit card.
Get A Card With 0% Interest
If you have had your card for some time, then you have already passed the limit of getting 0% interest on it. Of course, if you regularly pay your credit card bills in full and on time, then you already are practically getting 0% interest. When you get a new credit card, you often are given a promotional benefit of getting the 0% interest for up to 15 months. After that, you either want to make sure you pay every bill on time, or get a new card.
Balance Transfers
This is another fantastic feature of a good new card. By putting the balance from other cards that you are paying a higher interest on, onto the new card, you can save a good deal of money from the interest. Before you sign onto the new card, however, check to see if there are any balance transfer fees, and how often you can make a balance transfer. Some credit card companies take away some of your potential savings by charging you as much as 4% for any balance transfers. Other companies will only allow you to use this feature when you sign up for the credit card.
Rewards
Apart from the other items that have been mentioned, here is where you can get a lot of savings, too. The key here is to know exactly what you can get rewards for. If you are looking for a new card, then make sure that you get rewards for the things that you buy the most. For instance, if you are a businessman or businesswoman, and you have to travel a lot, then you want to get a card that gives you a good percentage of rewards for either your air miles, your gasoline, and / or for your hotel and restaurant usage.
Daily Uses
Most credit cards also give you the opportunity to get a percentage back of your daily necessities. This includes things like your groceries, your prescriptions, and your gasoline. The reward amounts range anywhere from about 1 to 3% on this type of purchase.
The Key
As with any credit card, you need to pay off the entire amount in full each month. This is where many go wrong with their cards. Remember that unless you actually do this, then it is costing you much more for the credit card than it would if you use cash. By paying off your bill each month, you not only enjoy the convenience of not having to carry cash with you, but you could also see monthly rebates or reward checks coming to you. This is where it could start getting exciting, and you might actually start looking forward to getting your credit card bill in the mail.
Both Dror Klar & Joseph Kenny are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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