Family Finance Help

Credit Cards: if you use them wisely they can be one of the handiest pieces of plastic you will ever come across, but if you fall into the trap of using them unwisely you may soon find yourself in all sorts of trouble.

If you’re struggling with credit card debt there are ways to get out of it, it just takes some determination and careful planning. There are several things you can do: the first and most drastic of course is cutting up your credit card(s) so you can no longer just whip out your card for what is often an unnecessary purchase. If you need a card to pay bills online etc instead think about using a debit card, you can still use it in the same way as a credit card only you’re relying on your own savings rather than having to pay interest on your bank’s money.

You may also want to speak to your bank or other financial institution and look into consolidating your credit cards (and other debts) into one loan. Interest payments on one personal loan will be a lot lower than those on your credit card(s)

If you do purchase something with a credit card, whenever possible pay the total due in full and before the due date, this will save you many dollars in interest each month. If you’re unable to pay the full amount always try to pay more than the minimum balance due this will save a little money on the interest. Remember that by paying on or before the due date will not only save on interest it will also save a lot when it comes to those high overdue payment fees.

Most people tend to find themselves in credit card trouble around Christmas time (or other times when you know you will be spending a reasonable amount of money) they seem to use their credit cards as a backup rather than spending their cash. To prevent this you need to think ahead, start a Christmas saving fund early in the year, making sure to put some money aside each week, so when the time comes you have the cash to draw on rather than needing to use a card.

Most importantly of all though is the need to budget. If you can arrange your finances well enough that you can include a payment to your credit card each month it makes things easier when the bill comes around.