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The do's and don'ts of credit card use

The do's and don'ts of credit card use

05 May, 2010 - 3 min read

Some people have one and some have four or five. When it comes to credit cards we use them for different reasons, but at the end of the day most of us could be a bit wiser when it comes to using them. RateCity runs through the do’s and don’ts when it comes to using your credit card.

May 5, 2010

To keep your credit card debt to a minimum and increase your savings, here an insight into what areas your credit card shines and where it leaves a great big hole in your wallet.

Green zone: credit card do’s

Make the most of your interest free days

Most credit cards come with interest-free periods which mean you pay zero interest on each purchase for the specified amount of time. Each time you make a purchase try and pay it back in full during this period so you don’t pay any extra. If you’re considering making a purchase, work out if you can pay it off before the interest free period and if you can’t, maybe think about whether you really need it.

Pay off the balance each month

By paying it off each month you will save on interest charges. If you can’t afford to pay off the balance each month then try paying more than the minimum amount due. The minimum monthly payment is just that, the absolute minimum. This amount is only a small percentage of your total amount outstanding and would take years and years to pay off.

Rack up your rewards

Use your credit card as a rewarding piece of plastic by instead of using your cash for more frequent purchases, such as the weekly groceries, pay it with your credit card to build up your credit card reward points. The trick is to pay it off straight away so you don’t get stung with paying any interest. Before you know it you will be flying interstate for some well-deserved time off thanks to all those points.

Compare online

When looking for a credit card, don’t just go for the first one you see. Compare credit cards online to find the best deals. Keep an eye out for low interest rates, minimum fees and a long interest-free periods.

Red zone: credit card don’ts

Don’t make cash withdrawals

Most lenders charge a much higher interest rate for withdrawing cash direct from your credit card. They also start charging you interest as soon as you take the money out of the machine, so avoid making cash withdrawals to save on heavy interest.

Don’t rely on your credit card for purchases

Your credit card is not your friend and won’t tell you when enough spending is enough. Instead of thinking that you will just put in on the credit card and pay it later (if ever), pretend that you don’t even have one, or leave it at home when you go out and learn to rely on it less. This will make you rethink your purchases and save you more.

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Disclaimer

This article is over two years old, last updated on May 5, 2010. While RateCity makes best efforts to update every important article regularly, the information in this piece may not be as relevant as it once was. Alternatively, please consider checking recent credit cards articles.

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Fact Checked

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Laine Gordon is the Money Editor at RateCity and an experienced journalist and research specialist. With a background in news and feature writing, covering finance, media and even food (a passion of hers) at Reed Elsevier publications, Laine brings almost two decades of experience to the team. Having covered major areas of interest to the general public from hip pocket issues to rising and falling interest rates and the impact to mortgages, credit and saving in Australia, she is passionate about researching and telling people’s stories to help others make better decisions about their own finances.