Don't use credit as an excuse to buy items that are outside your price range. Before purchasing any expensive items, consider how long it will take for you to pay it off in full.
Do not accept the first credit card offer that you receive, regardless of how good it sounds. While you may be tempted to jump on an offer, you do not want to take any chances that you will end up signing up for a card and then, seeing a better deal shortly after from another company.
Avoid being the victim of credit card fraud by keeping your credit card safe at all times. Pay special attention to your card when you are using it at a store. Double check to make sure you have returned your card to your wallet or purse, when the purchase is finished.
If you have a credit card account and do not want it to be shut down, make sure to use it. Credit card companies are closing credit card accounts for non-usage at an increasing rate. This is because they view those accounts to be lacking in profit, and therefore, not worth retaining. If you don't want your account to be closed, use it for small purchases, at least once every three months.
As a general rule, you should avoid applying for any credit cards that come with any type of free offer. More often than not, anything that you get free with credit card applications will always come with some sort of catch or hidden costs that you are sure to regret later on down the road.
Never lend your credit card to a family member or friend. Even though a good friend might have a need, it is never a good decision to lend it to anyone. If they were to charge more to your card than you agreed to, for instance, the friendship could be damaged forever.
Each month when you receive your statement, take the time to look over it. Check all the information for accuracy. A merchant may have accidentally charged a different amount or may have submitted a double payment. You may also find that someone accessed your card and went on a shopping spree. Immediately report any inaccuracies to the credit card company.
Only spend what you could afford to pay for in cash. The benefit of using a card rather than cash, or a debit card, is that it establishes credit, which you will need to get a loan in the future. By only spending what you can afford to pay for in cash, you will never get into debt that you can't get out of.
Keep one low-limit card in your wallet for emergency expenses only. All other cards should be kept at home, to avoid impulse buys that you can't really afford. If you need a card for a large purchase, you will have to knowingly get it from your home and take it with you. This will give you extra time to think about what you are buying.
Transferring your balance to a low interest credit card can be beneficial if you understand all the terms and conditions. Understand what the interest rate will revert to after the initial introductory rate. You may be in line for very high rates of interest as soon as this initial period is up. Know what you're getting into before you sign up.
Be sure that you only apply for credit cards that you know that you will need now, as well as, in the future. This is important because having too many credit cards may lead to irresponsible spending and living outside your means. Doing so may very well cause you to become buried in debt and have a hard time paying it off.
When you have lost your credit card, contact the institution who provided the card right away. Failure to notify can result in you becoming responsible for fraudulent charges on the card. Once you have reported your card as missing, you will not be held responsible for unauthorized usage.
When applying for a credit card, be sure that you check out the schedule of fees that may apply to you. This is important because if you do find yourself in a situation where you miss a payment, you do not want to be faced with late payment fees that you cannot afford.
Designate only one credit card to use for online purchases in order to minimize any damage that could occur if your information is stolen. When you use multiple credit cards you can be very vulnerable to hackers, be cautious of this.
Look out for cash back credit cards. These types of credit cards give you cash back on every purchase that you make with the credit card. Cash back rates can range from 1% to 5%, so over the course of a year, you could actually earn a lot of cash back.
Do not think that just because you paid your credit card account off in full that the account is closed. The account will not be closed until you contact the credit card company and request it to be closed. This should be done in writing. The company should confirm the closure within fifteen days.
Try to refrain from making minimum payments on your credit cards. The minimum payment barely covers the finance charges and at that rate, it can take years to pay off the balance. When making your monthly payment, pay as much as you can so as to lower the principal balance as well.
Credit card use is important. It isn't hard to learn the basics of using credit cards properly, and reading this article goes a long way towards doing that. Congratulations, on having taken the first step towards getting your credit card use under control. Now you just need to start practicing the advice you just read.
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