The newest number that everyone is talking about is their credit score. With a good credit score, you can get better credit card offers, better interest rates for houses and cars, and you can get bigger loans than others with lower credit scores. And the truth is that most people don't know what their credit score is.
When you carry high balances on your credit cards, these balances are reported back to the credit reporting agencies that in turn make adjustments to your credit score. If you have large balances, it looks like you're living beyond your means and thus you're not a good candidate for future loans and your score is lowered.
If you have low balances (less than 50% of the limit) and pay your bills on time, you will raise your credit score.
Making larger investments
If you dream of owning a home or a new car, you need to pay down that credit card debt. In order to get these kinds of large loans, banks need to know that you are responsible with money and will be able to pay off your loan as you promise. By having credit card debt, it seems as though you aren't able to live on what you can afford and thus will probably not be reliable with paying off your loan.
And if you do get the loan, the interest rate is much higher for the borrower that has credit card debt. In case you can't pay off the loan, the bank will want to make more money off you when you do make payments.
Your sense of security
No one needs the added stress of whether or not they can afford to pay the minimum balance on their credit card. And with a little planning a discipline, credit card debt can be managed and eliminated.
You can start with cutting up those credit cards and start using ‘real' money to make way for the future that you deserve—houses, cars, and a good night's sleep.
