You Really Want to Avoid These 10 Credit Card Mistakes (2024)

FAQs

You Really Want to Avoid These 10 Credit Card Mistakes? ›

You make one payment 15 days before your statement is due and another payment three days before the due date. By doing this, you can lower your overall credit utilization ratio, which can raise your credit score. Keeping a good credit score is important if you want to apply for new credit cards.

You make one payment 15 days before your statement is due and another payment three days before the due date. By doing this, you can lower your overall credit utilization ratio, which can raise your credit score. Keeping a good credit score is important if you want to apply for new credit cards.

Taking cash advances

One of the major credit card mistakes to avoid is taking out a cash advance. A cash advance is when you use the line of credit associated with your credit card to take out cash from an ATM.

1) Choosing a rewards credit card when they can't pay their balance in full each month. Rewards cards are great, but if you're going to carry a balance, they are your worst choice as they have the highest annual percentage rates (APR) of any card type.

In that case, you would make a payment toward your balance 15 days before (on Oct. 13) and another one three days before (on Oct. 25). By making two payments instead of one, you get to inch your balance lower just before your statement period closes.

The 15/3 credit hack gets its name from the practice of making your monthly payment in two installments: the first half 15 days before your due date and the second half three days before your due date. This hack, popular on various social media platforms, claims to be a shortcut to good credit.

Use credit wisely - follow the 20/10 rule

Never borrow more than 20% of your annual after-tax income. Keep your monthly debt payments to less than 10% of your monthly after-tax income. Keep track of your purchases and don't buy expensive and unnecessary impulse items.

Always Make Payments on Time

One of the most essential rules to owning a credit card is paying bills on time. A single late payment within a year of on-time payments might not seem to be much, but it could be a slippery slope that leads to debt and low credit scores and it will impact your credit.

If you're just starting out, a good credit limit for your first card might be around $1,000. If you have built up a solid credit history, a steady income and a good credit score, your credit limit may increase to $5,000 or $10,000 or more — plenty of credit to ensure you can purchase big ticket items.

What not to say to a credit card company? ›

Don't Lie About Your Credit Card History

Customer service representatives can easily pull up your credit card history while you're on the phone, so there is no use in bending the truth.

Mistake 1: Late payments.

The golden rule of credit card use is to pay your balances in full each month. “My best advice is to use a credit card like a debit card — paying in full to avoid interest but taking advantage of credit cards' superior rewards programs and buyer protections,” says Rossman.

Cash back is not free money, but rather a reward for making purchases on expenses like gas, groceries, restaurant meals or even streaming services. Understanding how cash back works and what to look for in your next card can help you maximize rewards and earn more money back on everyday purchases.

The scenario in which consumers revolve unpaid credit card debt while maintaining some liquid assets, typically as a balance in their bank accounts, is known as the credit card debt puzzle.

Some credit card experts believe that Chase is also likely to decline new card applications if you have opened two credit cards within 30 days. This is known as the "2/30 rule." Because I had just opened two new cards, Chase was reluctant to let me open another.

In addition to the once-per-lifetime rule, AmEx has a couple of other rules for new cardholders. 1-in-5 rule: This states that you can only apply for one American Express card every five days. 2-in-90 rule: You can only be approved for up to two American Express cards within a 90 day period.