There are many things that you have to have a credit card to do. Making hotel reservations, booking flights or reserving a rental car, are just a few things that you will need a credit card to do. You must carefully consider the use of a credit card and how much you are using it. Following are a few suggestions to help you.
When you are unable to pay off one of your credit cards, then the best policy is to contact the credit card company. Letting it just go to collections is bad for your credit score. You will find that most companies will let you pay it off in smaller amounts, as long as you don’t keep avoiding them.
It is a good idea to have two to three credit card accounts open. This will increase your credit score over time, especially if you don’t carry a balance from month to month. However, if you do open more than 3 accounts, it will not be a positive for prospective lenders.
If you are in the market for a secured credit card, it is very important that you pay close attention to the fees that are associated with the account, as well as, whether they report to the major credit bureaus. If they do not report, then it is no use having that specific card.
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.
When you are looking over all of the rate and fee information for your credit card make sure that you know which ones are permanent and which ones may be part of a promotion. You do not want to make the mistake of going for a card with very low rates and then they balloon shortly after.
Do not sign up for a credit card because you see it as a way to fit in or as a status symbol. While it may seem like fun to be able to pull it out and pay for things when you have no money, you will regret it, when it is time to pay the credit card company back.
An important aspect of smart credit card usage is to pay the entire outstanding balance, each and every month, whenever possible. By keeping your usage percentage low, you will help keep your overall credit score high, as well as, keep a substantial amount of available credit open for use in case of emergencies.
Pay your minimum payment on time each month, to avoid more fees. If you can afford to, pay more than the minimum payment so that you can reduce the interest fees. Just be sure to pay the minimum amount before the due date.
Take the time to play around with numbers. Before you go out and put a pair of fifty dollar shoes on your credit card, sit with a calculator and figure out the interest costs. It may make you second-think the idea of buying those shoes that you think you need.
You don’t always want to get yourself a credit card as soon as you possibly can. Your friends may be doing it, but you don’t want to find yourself in a credit crisis like others who do it. Get a little bit of adult experience under your belt before making the leap.
Don’t use your credit cards to purchase items that you can’t afford. You might want a flat-screen television, but that doesn’t mean that you should use your credit card to buy it. You will pay loads of interest, and the monthly payments may be out of your reach. Take some time to sleep on the the decision and make sure it is really something you want to do. Then, if you decide to purchase it, you may be able to get low interest rates through in-house financing.
Don’t open too many credit card accounts. A single person only needs two or three in his or her name, in order to get a good credit established. More credit cards than this, could actually do more damage than good to your score. Also, having multiple accounts is harder to keep track of and harder to remember to pay on time.
Do not use your credit cards to pay for gas, clothes or groceries. You will find that some gas stations will charge more for the gas, if you choose to pay with a credit card. It’s also not a good idea to use cards for these items because these items are things you need often. Using your cards to pay for them can get you into a bad habit.
It is important to always review the charges, and credits that have posted to your credit card account. Whether you choose to verify your account activity online, by reading paper statements, or making certain that all charges and payments are reflected accurately, you can avoid costly errors or unnecessary battles with the card issuer.
Don’t give credit card numbers out, online or over the telephone, without knowing that the company you’re dealing with is trustworthy. If you are receiving an unsolicited offer that is requesting a credit card number, be doubly suspicious. There are tons of scammers and unscrupulous individuals who are just waiting for the chance to steal credit card information. Be very careful, and protect yourself.
Your oldest credit card is the one that affects your credit report the most. Do not close this account unless the cost of keeping it open is too high. If you are paying an annual fee, ridiculous interest rates, or something similar, then close the account. Otherwise, keep that one open, as it can be the most beneficial to your credit score.
Knowing these suggestions is just a starting point to learning how to properly manage credit cards and the benefits of having one. You are sure to benefit from taking the time to learn the tips that were given in this article. Read, learn and save on hidden costs and fees.
