Don’t be fooled by those who tell you that it is okay to buy something, if you just put it on a credit card. Credit cards have lead us to have monumental amounts of personal debt, the likes of which have rarely been seen before. Get yourself out of this way of thinking by reading this article and seeing how credit cards affect you.
Never charge items on credit cards that cost far more than you have to spend. While credit can help you afford things you can pay off over a few months, avoid charging expensive items that you cannot pay off quickly.
Don’t fall for the introductory rates on credit cards when opening a new one. Be sure to ask the creditor what the rate will go up to after, the introductory rate expires. Sometimes, the APR can go up to 20-30% on some cards, an interest rate you definitely don’t want to be paying once your introductory rate goes away.
If you have multiple cards that have a balance on them, you should avoid getting new cards. Even if you are paying everything back on time, there is no reason for you to take the chance of getting another card and making your financial situation any more strained than it already is.
Keep a close eye on your balance. Know the credit limit of that card. Exceeding your limit can result in significant unexpected fees. You will take far longer to repay balances if you continually go over the stated limit.
Before getting a credit card, make certain that you completely understand the policies you are agreeing to. It is possible to discover rates that are higher than you expected. Read all the fine print in order to make certain that you understand the card policy completely.
Don’t have any new credit cards sent to you if you have a mailbox that is not locked at all times. It is common for thieves to steal credit cards from unlocked mailboxes. To prevent this, make sure your credit cards are mailed only to secured mail boxes.
As a general rule, you should avoid applying for any credit cards that come with any type of free offer. More often than not, anything that you get free with credit card applications will always come with some sort of catch or hidden costs that you are sure to regret later on down the road.
Credit Cards
It is too easy for many people to improperly use their credit cards. While going into debt is unavoidable sometimes, many people go overboard and wind up with debt they cannot afford to repay. You should always pay your full balance each month. By doing this, you are effectively using credit, maintaining low balances, and increasing your credit score.
If you have several credit cards with balances on each, consider transferring all of your balances to one, lower-interest credit card. Almost everyone gets mail from various banks offering low or even zero balance credit cards if you transfer your current balances. These lower interest rates usually last for 6 months or a year. You can save a lot of interest and have one lower payment each month!
If you are desperate to get approval for good credit cards, make sure that you keep an eye on your credit score. Credit card companies use those credit scores for determining the cards to offer customers. People who maintain outstanding credit scores have access to credit cards that charge little interest, provide great rewards programs, and even offer cash back features.
Students who have credit cards, should be particularly careful of what they use it for. Most students do not have a large monthly income, so it is important to spend their money carefully. Charge something on a credit card if, you are totally sure you will be able to pay your bill at the end of the month.
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.
When it comes to credit cards, be sure that you are weary of any sort of free offers. This is important, because a lot of times, the freebies that you are offered can be thought of as traps that may lure you in and end up costing you a lot of money in the future.
Knowing the impact that credit cards really have on your life, is a good first step towards using them more wisely in the future. Often times, they are a necessary building block for good credit. However, they are overused and often, misunderstood. This article has attempted to clear up some of those confusing ideas and set the record straight.
