Ask any financial advisor and they will tell you that credit cards, in general, are not a good idea. But they aren't all completely bad. The problem isn't necessarily the card, it is the way the card is used.
The average American family has approximately $7,000 to $10,000 (or higher, by some reports) of credit card debt. For most people, credit cards are a major obstacle between them and financial security. They are just too tempting. Too easy to use. And it is too hard to get out from under them.
But if you are one of the few people who have the self control to pay off your credit card bill each month -- every month -- then credit cards could have some advantages.
If you pay off your bill each month, you are basically receiving an interest free loan from the time you make your purchase until your credit card bill arrives. But the key is that you have to keep a close eye on how much you are spending, you must have the money to pay it off in full. Or you will pay interest on what you can't pay.
Many credit cards offer protection for your purchases for a certain amount of time after the purchase is made. Airline tickets purchased with credit cards often offer free life and baggage insurance during your vacation. Some provide rental car insurance. A number of cards let you earn points for every $1 you charge. Others offer you cash back on your purchases. Many of these "reward" cards can be found with little to no annual fee.
The most popular of the rewards cards are the airline credit cards. These allow you to earn points toward free tickets or other upgrades with each dollar you spend. Almost all airline cards have annual fees, but these are sometimes waived for top customers. If you have used your card a lot during the year, you can request to have your fees waived.
There are many other card programs out there -- all intended to draw customers in. There are cards that pay towards your home mortgage loan. Some will donate to your favorite charity. You can find a card linked to almost anything nowadays.
The reason that credit cards take the risk that you will take an interest free loan and pay off your bill in full is simple. First of all, anytime you make a purchase with a credit card, the store you do business with must pay the credit card company anywhere between three and seven percent of the amount charged.
The other way they stay in business is by charging credit card holders who don't pay their balance each month high interest rates. These rates are even higher for those who miss a payment.
Credit cards are banking on you not paying your balance in full. The majority of their card holders don't. They encourage you to charge by offering money transfers, convenience checks and other incentives. They want you to be surprised when you receive your bill each month at how much you owe them.
But the fact is that credit cards are only a good deal if you pay off your balance in full each month and you only buy things that you have the money for at the time you buy them.
So that leaves many advisors to ask: why not just use your money and forgo all of the trouble? The benefits to the rewards cards are so minimal, they often aren't worth the risk.
While cards are the downfall of many, if you have self-control and use them wisely, there are advantages. Many people do find that they can save money by using them. Be careful and keep track of your spending, and you should find that they not only improve your credit score, but provide many other benefits as well.
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