Credit Card Mistakes To Avoid
The average family carries at least two credit cards in their wallets. Many people know how to manage the use of their cards well, and others do not. It can be easy to slip from smart money manager into a category of needs improvement. The key is staying focused on your money and know these credit card mistakes to avoid.
Credit Card Mistakes To Avoid
1. Using it like cash — borrowing from your credit card to pay for daily living expenses like gas or groceries will cost you in interest fees long after you have consumed the goods. Evaluate your income-to-expenses, you may need to make a lifestyle change to lower expenses or earn more.
2. Taking out cash advances — using your line of credit to get cash for an unexpected expense will cost you in interest fees, and those fees are also much higher. If possible, charge the expense directly to the card.
3. Making only minimum payments — much of the minimum goes towards the interest and not the principal, nearly doubling the amount of time it takes to pay off the balance. At minimum, calculate the amount of interest for the month and pay that on top of the minimum payment.
4. Making payments late — payments over 30 days late will be reported to the credit bureaus and your score will be damaged by this negative mark. Set up automatic withdrawal from your bank account to avoid late payments.
5. Closing old accounts — closing old, or paid off accounts hurts your credit profile by lowering your total available line of credit. Keep these accounts open for emergencies only or simply to prove to future lenders you can carry credit in good standing.
Debt problems can sneak up on the best of us, but waiting to take action can hurt your financial future. If you are living paycheck to paycheck and worry about your ability to make ends meet, contact a Modesto bankruptcy lawyer to discuss your debt relief options.
Categorized in: Credit