Getting and using a credit card is a matter of educating yourself about credit. While there are lots of credit cards to choose from, most of them are pretty similar, so if you learn some credit card basics, you’ll be able to understand what you’re looking at. Read this article to learn about credit cards.
Practice sound financial management by only charging purchases that you know you will be able to pay off. Credit cards can be a quick and dangerous way to rack up large amounts of debt that you may not be able to pay off. Don’t use them to live off of, if you are unable to come up with the funds to do so.
Emergency, business or travel purposes, is all that a credit card should really be used for. You want to keep credit open for the times when you need it most, not when purchasing luxury items. You never know when an emergency will crop up, so it is best that you are prepared.
A credit card should not be used for purchases you cannot afford. Just because you desire to have a new TV, it does not mean that buying using your credit card is a good option. The interest charges will be exorbitant, and you may not be able to make necessary payments. Leave the store and think it over for a day prior to making your decision. If you still want to purchase it, the store usually has in-house financing that will have lower interest rates.
Keep track of what you are purchasing with your card, much like you would keep a checkbook register of the checks that you write. It is far too easy to spend spend spend, and not realize just how much you have racked up over a short period of time.
Make sure each month you pay off your credit cards when they are due, and most importantly, in full when possible. If you do not pay them in full each month, you will end up having to have pay finance charges on the unpaid balance, which will end up taking you a long time to pay off the credit cards.
Keep one low-limit card in your wallet for emergency expenses only. All other cards should be kept at home, to avoid impulse buys that you can’t really afford. If you need a card for a large purchase, you will have to knowingly get it from your home and take it with you. This will give you extra time to think about what you are buying.
Make sure you save your statements. Before you file them away, pay close attention to what is on them as well. If you see a charge that shouldn’t be on there, dispute the charge. All credit card companies have dispute procedures in place to assist you with fraudulent charges that may occur.
When using your credit card online, only use it at an address that begins with https:\. The “s” indicates that this is a secure connection that will encrypt your credit card information and keep it safe. If you use your card elsewhere, hackers could get hold of your information and use it for fraudulent activity.
Keep multiple credit card accounts open. Having multiple credit cards will keep your credit score healthy, as long as you pay on them consistently. The key to keeping a healthy credit score with multiple credit cards is to use them responsibly. If you do not, you could end up hurting your credit score.
Never make the mistake of not paying credit card payments, because you can’t afford them. Any payment is better than nothing, that shows you truly want to make good on your debt. Not to mention that delinquent debt can end up in collections, where you will incur extra finance charges. This can also ruin your credit for years to come!
Try using post-it notes with your credit card balances in places that you often see in your workspace. It’s important to be aware of what your balance is. It is very easy to overspend and drown in debt with credit cards. Self-monitoring is the key to avoiding this trap!
It is inadvisable to pay a credit card’s balance with a different credit card. Some card holders get cash advances, thinking they will be able to pay emergency bills with it. This trick is a losing game, though. The fees and interest rates that stack up through this procedure can rapidly become crippling, turning a short-term credit crunch into a perpetual one.
If you make a late payment, ask for a waiver of the late fee and increased interest rate. If you miss a payment or pay your bill late, credit card providers will usually increase your APR interest rates and charge you additional fees. You may be able to reduce these charges by calling the credit company.
When applying for a credit card, be sure that you check out the schedule of fees that may apply to you. This is important because if you do find yourself in a situation where you miss a payment, you do not want to be faced with late payment fees that you cannot afford.
Stay away from pre-approved offers from credit card companies. Remember, it is not the credit card companies responsibility to find the best card for you, it is their job to sign up as many people as possible. Using whatever marketing techniques they can. The pre-approved offers sound tempting, but they tend to include extremely high interest rates.
As stated earlier in this article, credit card use isn’t nearly as complicated as some folks like to make it seem. Now that you’ve learned a little more about credit, it shouldn’t seem overwhelming or scary. Whether you’re looking for your first card or want to improve your credit card habits, hopefully, this article has helped you.
