Wednesday, September 11, 2013

The Right Way Of Using Credit Cards

By Marian Scott


Wisely using a credit card can help you get free rewards, like a paid-for vacation, for example. People who fail to use credit cards intelligently end up with nothing but more bills. If you desire to be good at using your credit card, continue to read this article on how you can get good credit cards and ways on how you can use them wisely.

Be aware of your balance at all times. Make sure you know the amount of your credit card limit. If you go over that limit, you are going to pay more fees than you realize. Try contacting your credit card company for an increased limit if you consistently go over your current limit.

By keeping track of all your credit card purchases, this will help you from spending more money than you can actually afford. It is quite easy to lose track of what you are using your credit card for, so you should commit yourself to keeping track of all of these expenditures in either a small business accounting software or on a spreadsheet.

Many credit cards come with rewards or loyalty accounts. You should find a rewards program that will benefit you for regular usage of your card. If used wisely, you can end up with an extra income stream.

Avoid the temptation to lend your credit cards to anyone. Even if it is a great friend of yours, that should still be avoided. Doing so can cause over-limit charges when someone else charges more to the credit card than you said he could.

Create a spending budget for your credit cards. Most people use a budget for their income, so budgetting your credit card is a great idea too. You don't want to get into the habit of thinking of credit cards as extra money. Set aside a specific amount that you can safely spend on a card every month. Do not spend more than that, and at the end of the month, pay it off.

Be sure to regularly monitor your credit card transactions. Sign up to receive mobile alerts if they are offered by your provider. This way, irregular activity can be questioned immediately. If you are aware of suspicious account activity, call the authorities immediately.

A simple way to minimize impulsive or accidental credit charges is to place your debit cards in front of your credit cards in the pockets of your wallet. In cases where you are distracted or in a hurry, this makes it more likely for you to use your debit cards by default instead of your credit cards.

Carefully consider all the fees associated with a particular card. The interest rate and APR are important, but be mindful of all the fees that come with a card. Application fees, cash advance fees and service charges are sometimes involved that make having the credit card less worthwhile.

If you use more than one credit card, try singling one out and paying it off monthly. Your other cards may have high debt, but paying off one select card in full each month helps to build stronger credit.

There are still many beneficial aspects to cards that provide no reward programs or other perks. People who don't use their cards properly may be gratified in the short term but suffer long-term stress over bills. Use the information you have learned here to be in the group you want to be in.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment