Use Your Credit Wisely by:Jake R Avey
Credit is becoming a necessity these days
Credit is becoming a necessity these days. Even if you can afford to pay for all your purchases in cash you wouldnt be very comfortable walking around knowing that you have a large amount of cash with you. Credit cards can easily solve your dilemma and also makes it easy for you to track all your expenses. There are also rewards that you can earn if you use your cards wisely.However, lets forget the numerous perks you can get via credit card and check in with Mr. Reality: that plastic card can also make it so much easier to spend more than you can afford to pay. Here are a few tips for you to control your spending sprees and use your credit cards wisely, at the same time maintaining all the perks you can get from them:
Pay your bills on time. Having balances raises your interest each day. The sooner you pay, the lower your balance and interest. Paying on time will also ensure that your credit scores will remain positive.
Pay more than the minimum balance. Even if you pay the minimum, you still have a balance remaining. The more of a payment you make, the lower your monthly minimum payment becomes. If possible, pay the whole balance every month to avoid debt and bad credit.
Need or want? It is advisable to use your credit cards for emergency purposes. However, Its been proven by numerous studies that credit cards make people spend too much. It helps to think before making a purchase, ask yourself if its simply something you want or if its something you really need.
Dont get too many rewards cards. One rewards card is enough. That way, its easier to achieve points rapidly instead of spreading these points to several cards. Remember: the more points you accumulate, the more rewards you reap. Having several cards will only slow down your progress there.
Check transaction fees. Transaction fees are usually 3% of your balance which can be quite high considering the amount is accumulated over time especially if you are transferring huge amounts of money.
If you find it hard to change your credit habits, leave your card at home when you go out or ask someone reliable to keep it for you. This can also be very helpful if you have been accumulating much debt already for it prevents you from adding more debt to your account.
Avoid checks. Using the checks your credit card company sends you is like doing a cash advance. This can bring upon hefty fees and often, high interest rates.
Credit debt can be overwhelming and can change your life drastically. Making wise decisions concerning your credit cards can get you out of credit debt and can improve your lifestyle greatly!
About the author
Jake Avey has studied credit repair and debt issues and offers resources for people looking to fix their credit scores and take advantage of lower lending rates. He has helped people save money off their monthly payments and to get back on their feet. For more information, visit http://www.helpmycreditdebt.com How to Chose your E-currency Exchanger by:Daniel da Silva Bootstrapping Basics Entrepreneurs Need To Know by:Ellisa Brenneman How to Start Your Own Commercial Cleaning Business by:Jeremy Gray Penny Stocks Greed is not Always Good by:John Whitefoot Priortizing Prevention by:Steven Wachs Tips for Personal Loans by:Teeny Ingberg How to Make a Foreclosure Purchase by:Teeny Ingberg Business Loans that Need Guaranty by:Teeny Ingberg India: Favored Destination for Offshore R&D by:Anand Kuppuswamy Do Everything Possible to Protect your Dollar Store Business from Theft by:Bob Hamilton Is It Time to Get Creative with your Dollar Store Merchandise Buying by:Bob Hamilton Dealing with Tight Margins When you Own a Dollar Store by:Bob Hamilton You Dont Need to Go It Alone when Opening a Dollar Store by:Bob Hamilton