We thought it relevant to take another look at a topic that affects millions of people in the UK and beyond. And that is the issue of responsible credit card use. Here are our tips to make good use of a useful product. But a product that can also create untold woe.
Treat It As Real Money
You may argue that I’m stating the obvious, and you’d be right. Despite this, many people treat their credit cards as though they aren’t spending actual money. They are persuaded by the fact that the purchase cost is not instantly deducted from their balance sheet. There’s a reason I still pay with cash for most physical goods, making me something of an outcast. It’s because it makes my purchase more genuine; I comprehend the financial implications and consequences of the purchase completely and quickly. If you use a credit card to purchase something, you will have to pay it off at some point. In fact, you may end yourself owing more than the original purchase price.
Responsible Credit Card Use – Sensible, Regular Use
Credit cards, while they may be a major role in many people’s significant debt problems, are not intrinsically bad. They are a helpful product that can benefit a large number of people if used responsibly. Using a credit card on a regular basis and making timely payments on the balance might also help to maintain a good credit score. So using a credit card on a regular basis is fine as long as you can pay off what you put on it.
Responsible Credit Card Use – Leave Cards At Home
If you’re the type of person who buys things on the spur of the moment or because you see something you like and just have to have it, you might want to keep your credit card at home. Make it difficult to use so you don’t end up overspending on things you don’t need. Leave it out of sight at home as well, so that using it is a conscious effort.
Responsible Credit Card Use – Pay Balances Off
Never use a credit card to pay for anything you wouldn’t normally be able to afford. There are a few exceptions to this rule, which I will discuss in the next section, where taking your time to settle your debt may not cost you anything. However, the basic guideline is that you should buy things and then pay them off within a month to avoid paying interest.
Use The System
The majority of credit cards come with bonuses and promotional offers. So take advantage of these benefits and deals. Don’t just use a credit card because it’s convenient; attempt to obtain something in return. Choose the card that best fits your situation. Choose a 0% interest welcome offer if you need to make a large buy for which you do not have the finances. That way, if you take your time repaying the debt, you won’t lose money. Choose a card with a reward scheme if you make frequent purchases.
Keep A Check On Your Balances
This is an absolute requirement. Every credit card statement should be double-checked. Set aside time to check online transactions if you’ve gone paperless. This is how I discovered a bogus £300 credit card purchase last year. You should also double-check for errors, expiring deals, and that you are paying off the correct amount.
Keep Accounts Open
The natural tendency is to close a credit card account if you don’t use it. However, this may harm your credit score, as an active card that hasn’t been maxed out with purchases is seen as a positive sign by potential lenders. If you don’t have to, don’t close cards.
