Easy Tips To Help You Effectively Deal With Credit Cards
Learning to manage your finances is not always easy, especially when it comes to the use of credit cards. Even when we are very careful, we can end up paying way too much in interest charges or even incur a significant amount of debt in a short time. The following article will help you to learn how to use credit cards smartly.
Keep track of how much money you are spending when using a credit card. Small, incidental purchases can add up quickly, and it is important to know how much you have spend on them, so you can understand how much you owe. You can keep track with a check register, spreadsheet program, or even with an online option offered by many credit card companies.
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.
Always read everything, even the small print. Before accepting any offer for a credit card, be informed of all the details. It’s very important to understand what interest rates and payment schedules you’ll be dealing with. Also, look into the amount of fees that can be assessed as well as any grace periods.
If possible, pay your credit cards in full, every month. Use them for normal expenses, such as, gasoline and groceries and then, proceed to pay off the balance at the end of the month. This will build your credit and help you to gain rewards from your card, without accruing interest or sending you into debt.
Never give out your credit card number to anyone, unless you are the person that has initiated the transaction. If someone calls you on the phone asking for your card number in order to pay for anything, you should ask them to give you a way to contact them, so that you can arrange the payment at a better time.
It may seem unnecessary to many people, but be sure to save receipts for the purchases that you make on your credit card. Take the time each month to be sure that the receipts match up to your credit card statement. It will help you manage your charges, as well as, help you catch unjust charges.
You may want to consider using layaway, instead of credit cards during the holiday season. Credit cards traditionally, will cause you to incur a higher expense than layaway fees. This way, you will only spend what you can actually afford during the holidays. Making interest payments over a year on your holiday shopping will end up costing you far more than you may realize.
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.
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.
Limit the number of active credit cards you have, in order to avoid getting into debt. It’s much easier to manage your finances with fewer cards and to limit excessive spending. Ignore all the offers you might be receiving, tempting you into getting more cards and letting your spending get too far out of control.
Keep a highly visible note posted somewhere, reminding you of your card’s balance and your recent purchases. This will help in reminding you of what your total is and you will be aware of what you’re spending your money on. This will help you keep your credit spending under control and you will be helping keep yourself out of a huge debt problem in the future.
Credit cards can either be your friend or they can be a serious foe which threatens your financial well being. Hopefully, you have found this article to be provisional of serious advice and helpful tips you can implement immediately to make better use of your credit cards wisely and without too many mistakes along the way!
