Substantial Ways Credit Card Can Actually Save You Money
You can save money and gain additional rewards if you carefully use your credit card. This page provides a list of credit cards that provide this opportunity. Read on to discover how it operates.
Credit Card Rewards
Using a rewards credit card for routine shopping will help you conserve credit. Every dollar you spend on a rewards card earns you credit card rewards. Higher card purchases receive more rewards. Depending on the rewards card you use, you could get cash back to cover the cost of purchases, points redeemable for travel, merchandise, or more, or travel miles redeemable for air travel or more.
Many rewards credit cards feature yearly fees to cover program administration costs. If you’re considering a rewards card, you may want to compare the worth of the rewards against the annual cost. The card may not be worth it if you don’t get enough rewards. Some rewards cards charge higher interest rates than non-rewards cards if you carry a balance when the card has no grace period.
Regardless of the interest rate a rewards credit card charges, don’t make changes you wouldn’t usually make to earn rewards. This technique could lead to spending money you don’t have and interest charges that surpass rewards. Use a credit card that earns rewards on routine transactions to earn rewards. Food, petrol, and bills. Paying for these goods with a rewards credit card could earn you rewards that cash or debit cards don’t.
Interest-rate promotions
Until the introductory period ends, using a card with a 0% introductory rate is like getting an interest-free loan. You won’t pay interest if you pay off your balance before the promotion ends. You can finance items and save on interest.
But watch out for these. If you make a late payment, the card issuer may remove the introductory deal and start charging interest. So, pay the monthly minimum on time. If not, you’ll pay interest.
Introductory offers can help spread payments, but they don’t last forever. Usually 6-21 months. Even if you complete all your payments during the introductory period, the leftover debt will accrue interest until it’s paid off.
Calculate how much you’d have to spend each month to have a $0 debt when the introductory offer ends to avoid interest charges.
Initial interest rate decreases aren’t always 0%. Some may be lower than typical, between zero and your present rate. A lower loan can save you money, but not as much as 0%.
Transfers
Balance transfer offers are similar to special interest rates for purchases, except you use your card to pay off credit card debt. You transfer credit card balances up to the transfer limit with a balance transfer card.
If you can pay off the transferred debt before the introductory period ends, you may not pay any interest. If not, the remaining balance will accrue interest at the card’s standard rate after the promotional period.
Credit card balance transfers may be fee-based. Balance transfer fees range from 3% to 5% of the transferred amount and are added to your debt. Before obtaining a new card to complete the transfer, compare the interest savings with the costs to decide if it’s worth it.
The special interest rate usually only applies to balance transfers, not purchases. Additional credit card purchases may be subject to the usual interest rate. Read the balance transfer terms before committing.
Built-in expenses
Personal finance experts recommend tracking every transaction to stay on budget. Writing down every transaction can be tiresome and easy to forget.
Credit card purchases make tracking spending easy. You can check your online account or monthly statement to see how much you spend. The credit card company handles expense recording, saving you time. Time is money.
A monthly report of expenses shows where you’re sticking to your budget and where you might improve. This information could help you change your budget and spending patterns to save money.
If you get into your account and notice that you’ve spent most of your monthly grocery budget but still have two weeks left, you’ll need to make some modifications.
Credit card use can save money. Fees and interest might also add up. Before using your card to earn credit card rewards or take advantage of special offers, examine the pros and downsides of using your card vs. other payment options.