No one wants to lose out on the big things in life like buying a car or a house, because they misused their credit cards earlier on in life. This article has lots of ways to avoid big mistakes regarding credit cards, and also ways you can start to get out of a jam, if you’ve already created one.
When it is time to make monthly payments on your credit cards, be sure that you pay more than the minimum amount that you are required to pay. If you only pay the small amount required, it will take you longer to pay your debts off and the interest will be steadily increasing.
If you are determined to stop using credit cards, cutting them up is not necessarily the best way to do it. Just because the card is gone doesn’t mean the account is no longer open. If you get desperate, you may ask for a new card to use on that account, and get trapped in the same cycle of charging you wanted to get out of in the first place!
It is good credit card practice to pay your full balance at the end of each month. This will force you to charge only what you can afford, and reduces the amount of interest you carry from month to month which can add up to some major savings down the line.
It should be obvious, but many people fail to follow the simple tip of paying your credit card bill on time each month. Late payments can reflect poorly on your credit report, you may also be charged hefty penalty fees, if you don’t pay your bill on time.
If you are called and asked for the number of your credit card, refuse to divulge it. Many scammers will use this ploy. Only allow those that you trust to have your credit card number. Never give your numbers to people who may call you on the phone. This is a fairly common practice used by thieves and the caller usually is not who they say they are.
Look into the rewards that credit card companies offer. Find one that is going to pay you for making purchases on their card. If you are trying to maximize the rewards, charge everything you can on the card, but be sure to put enough cash back to pay the card off each month, in order to avoid losing your rewards to interest fees.
When you receive a replacement credit card in the mail, cut up your old one, and throw it away immediately. This can prevent your old card from becoming lost, or stolen, allowing someone else to get hold of your credit card number, and use it in a fraudulent way.
If you get into trouble, and cannot pay your credit card bill on time, the last thing you want to do is to just ignore it. Call your credit card company immediately, and explain the issue to them. They may be able to help put you on a repayment plan, delay your due date, or work with you in ways that won’t be as damaging to your credit.
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.
It is a good rule of thumb to have two major credit cards, long-standing, and with low balances reflected on your credit report. You do not want to have a wallet full of credit cards, no matter how good you may be keeping track of everything. While you may be handling yourself well, too many credit cards equals a lower credit score.
The convenience of credit cards can make it tempting to use them for every single purchase you make. For the smallest expenditures, though, it’s a better idea to stick with cash. Lots of vendors set a minimum amount before you can use your credit card, which just pressures you to make extra purchases. Only use your credit card if your purchase is for at least 10 dollars.
If you have more than one credit card, leave one at home always. Use it perhaps for online purchases made from home, but do not take it out with you. This way, if you do wind up slipping up and running up the cards in your wallet, you still have an available credit card to use for emergencies.
Don’t let your past issues with credit cards slow you down in the future. There are many things you can do right now, to start digging yourself out of that hole. If you’ve managed to stay out of it up to this point, then the advice you read here can keep you on the right track.
