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You and Your Credit Cards by Nikki Willhite How do you feel about credit cards? How you answer that question will have a lot to do with how you have used them, both now and in the past. If you have not had a problem with running up consumer debt in the past, you may regard credit cards as a great convenience. You may even consider them a moneymaker if you pay the balance off each month and take advantage of rebates and rewards. If, on the other hand, they have proven to be too much of a temptation, you may see them as evil, and do everything from freezing them in ice cubes, to trying to get by without one. It is hard to do without a credit card these days. You need at least one credit card for things like identification, reservations, and online shopping; let alone the unexpected for which you do not have the cash. In a fast paced world like ours has become, the convenience of using a credit card is a positive factor for many of us. We can’t carry enough cash for all our purchases, and it is much easier to hand over a plastic card than deal with writing a check and the monthly reconciling of long bank statements. Having said that, here are some things to remember when it comes to using credit and taking care of your credit cards - Know yourself.  If you know that you lack self-control, than you better stick it into an ice cube in the freezer. Be honest with yourself. I know I could not be in a room with a piece of fudge without eating it, so if I don't want to eat it, I don’t go there.   Don’t go shopping with a credit card if you know your judgment will be impaired by the plastic vs. cash. - If one piece of fudge is fine,  then just get a one credit card with a low spending limit. - Keep your credit cards to a minimum. It’s a lot easier to go over your budget if you have more than one card. No one needs department store specific cards. No one needs more than two major credit cards. - An easy way to make sure you stay within your credit card allowance is to deduct the amount of your charge when you get home from your checkbook. Then when it comes time to pay the bill, the money is already set aside. Or you can keep a running total. Either way, don’t "nickel and dime" your way into debt. Be aware of how much you are charging each month. - Never carry a card with an annual fee. There are too many cards out there that are free. - Some people keep one card for major purchases that they cannot pay off at the end of the month, and the other card for convenience and purchases they know they will pay off at the end of the month. The interest rate on the first card should be as low as possible since it will not be paid off each month. - Check the interest rate on your charge card periodically. They may change it on you. Be sure you are getting the lowest rate available. - If you are ever rejected after submitting an application for a credit card, find out why. You are legally entitled to a free copy of your credit report and the reason why you were rejected from the company who turned your application down. Rejection notices are official and come on paper. There will be a contact number that you can call and ask for this information. - Remember that only paying the minimum balance on a credit card will never pay the loan off. Even if you never add to the amount on your card, the monthly minimum payment will go down , and extend the loan for years. - If you do not pay your credit card payments on time, it will go in your credit history for 7 years. Other credit problems may last as long as 10 years. If you miss a payment, it is a good idea to get a copy of your credit report and have the reason for the missed payment listed on it. - Don’t assume that if a credit card company gives you a high credit limit that you can afford the payment. No one knows all the facts of your financial situation except you, and the credit card companies want you to go in debt. - Another plus of using credit cards is that the purchases paid for by major credit cards offer consumer protection. If you have a problem with a merchant, it is much easier to get your money back with the help of your credit card company than to do it on your own. - Remember that the interest you are paying on a credit card is a lot more than the interest you make from money in a savings account. When possible, pay off those credit cards. There is an old saying that goes...   "Those who understand interest receive it...Those who don't pay it" About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!  Article first published at www.allthingsfrugal.com

 

 

 

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