Credit cards are useful for building credit and managing finances. However, a credit card should not be taken out on a whim, and consumers should always be educated about their cards. This article gives some basic tips of what to do when you have a credit card. It will help you make wise choices and avoid credit trouble.
Be sure that you only use your credit card on a secure server, when making purchases online to keep your credit safe. When you input your credit card information on servers that are not secure, you are allowing any hacker to access your information. To be safe, be sure that the website starts with the “https” in its url.
Avoid being the victim of credit card fraud by keeping your credit card safe at all times. Pay special attention to your card when you are using it at a store. Double check to make sure you have returned your card to your wallet or purse, when the purchase is finished.
Make sure to completely understand your credit card terms before signing up with one. Fees and interest rates may be more than you feel is acceptable. Carefully go over everything in your policy, including the fine print, and ensure you understand what it means.
One important tip for all credit card users is to make a budget. Having a budget is a great way to figure out whether or not you can afford to buy something. If you can’t afford it, charging something to your credit card is just a recipe for disaster.
Always know what your utilization ratio is on your credit cards. This is the amount of debt that is on the card versus your credit limit. For instance, if the limit on your card is $500 and you have a balance of $250, you are using 50% of your limit. It is recommended to keep your utilization ratio of around 30%, in order to keep your credit rating good.
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.
You need to pay more than the minimum payment each month. If you aren’t paying more than the minimum payment you will never be able to pay down your credit card debt. If you have an emergency, then you could end up using all your available credit. So, each month try to send in a little extra money in order to pay down the debt.
Credit Cards
It is a good idea to have two to three credit card accounts open. You will improve your credit score. Paying off all of your cards monthly helps even more. You should have no more than three open credit cards. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be more difficult to qualify for a loan.
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.
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.
It is important to be wise when it comes to credit card spending. Limit spending and just buy things you can afford with that card. Be sure you are able to pay a charge on your statement before you make purchases with your card. If you carry balances, you are more likely to get caught in a cycle of debt that is difficult to escape.
Remember that you must pay back what you have charged on your credit cards. This is only a loan, and in many cases, it is a high interest loan. Carefully consider your purchases prior to charging them, to be sure that you will have the money to pay them off.
Stay away from high interest credit cards. Many people see no harm in getting a credit card with a high interest rate, as they are sure that they will always pay the balance off in full each month. Unfortunately, there are bound to be some months when paying the full bill is not possible.
Now it is probably clear that credit card usage can help people as they work on building up their credit history and taking control of their money. You need to understand each card’s terms and benefits in order to make informed choices for yourself. The tips in the text above are designed to help individuals make the right choices when dealing with credit.
