10 common mistakes to avoid when using credit cards
Paperless transactions are trending worldwide for the convenience and sustainability they facilitate. Credit cards promote this trend and ensure that one’s purchasing power is not determined by the amount currently available in their bank account. Credit cards provide one with the flexibility to buy products or avail of services on credit and pay the bank later. However, to maximize its benefits, it is important to avoid the following mistakes while using a credit card.
Not paying bills on time
One of the gravest mistakes credit card holders can make is to delay their bill payment. Paying one’s bills after the last date repeatedly can affect one’s credit score considerably, causing problems with obtaining loans and increasing interest rates. Thus, it is important to understand one’s billing cycle, i.e., when the bill gets generated and the number of days allotted to the credit card holder to make the payment.
Applying for multiple credit cards simultaneously
Owning multiple credit cards is often a strategy to split expenses and increase purchasing power. However, it is not a good idea to apply for multiple credit cards within short periods of time. Each time one applies for a credit card, the issuer undertakes an extensive inquiry on one’s credit report. Applying for multiple credit cards simultaneously triggers multiple inquiries, reflecting poorly on the applicant. In fact, certain banks stipulate a time period (such as two years) within which one should not have opened any other credit card before applying for the current one.
Using the entire credit repeatedly
While occasional utilization of the entire credit is permissible, making such purchases repeatedly can significantly reduce one’s credit utilization rate or the percentage of credit used out of the total credit granted to the credit card holder. As a general rule, it is advisable to avoid utilizing more than 30% of the allotted credit.
