Credit cards can be important tools that can expand your horizons and help you to establish credit for yourself. But their usefulness shouldn’t be taken for granted. This is because credit cards can also come with potential risks that you need to be aware of. Your goal should be to understand credit cards so you can use them in a fruitful way and get the most out of them without finding yourself in too much debt that you can’t get out of.
It’s Not Free Money
When people get their first credit card, they sometimes feel like they now have access to free money. This attitude can get you into bad spending habits and eventually serious debt. It is a good idea to never spend more money from your credit card than you can afford to pay back. It’s okay if it will take you a couple of months to pay off the purchase, you just don’t want to make a huge purchase that you may never finish paying off with the interest you accrue over time.
They Can Hurt You if You Aren’t Careful
If you aren’t being careful with your credit card spending you may find yourself in a huge amount of debt over time. This can also negatively impact your credit and make it difficult for you to acquire a loan in the future. If you are careful with your spending and always pay off your credit card in time, you can actually build credit. Building your credit can help you make big purchases like a home.
The Interest Can be More than You Expect
One of the most important things to understand about credit cards is the interest you will need to pay. You want to choose a card with a low interest rate, but you need to look beyond the first year. Sometimes your credit card will have a low interest rate at first and the interest will go up after an introductory period. You need to be aware of that possibility so you can plan your finances effectively. Finding a good interest rate and paying your bill on time will help your experience to be more positive.
A credit card can help you a lot, but it can also be a problem if you aren’t careful. Think carefully before deciding to choose a credit card and find an option that you feel comfortable with. Then keep track of your spending so you don’t overspend.
Check out this article where we debunk 10 myths about your credit!