Credit Cards

[JmeSunday]

I needed to use a credit card to keep it active so I bought something with it, but when I got home I realized I need to return what I bought.  Does that count as enough activity or do I need to use it again?

Thanks in advance for any input! 

[txjohn]

Do you have phone service, electric, water, cable/satellite, internet, car insurance?

I suggest you auto pay one or more of these and just PIF the card each month.  If you have a reward card then you get some benefit too.  If you don't have a reward card, call your ccc and ask about a product change to reward (if available).

This exercises the card with bills you all ready have to pay with cash anyway and if you can get rewards or cash back, all the better.

[YoungEntrepeneur]

I use my sockdrawered at my local gas station to my a bottle of Gatorade once a month.

[JmeSunday]

I definately get regular use on my rewards cards but this is my Macy's Visa and it's my oldest card.  It's my only card that's not a rewards card or just a department store card.  And since I do have the rewards cards, I really do want to use them for everything I can.  I had a gift card to use and I spent $7 over, so I put the balance on this card. 

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txjohn wrote:

Do you have phone service, electric, water, cable/satellite, internet, car insurance?

I suggest you auto pay one or more of these and just PIF the card each month.  If you have a reward card then you get some benefit too.  If you don't have a reward card, call your ccc and ask about a product change to reward (if available).

This exercises the card with bills you all ready have to pay with cash anyway and if you can get rewards or cash back, all the better.

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[txjohn]

If it's the oldest card in your credit portfolio, then I would put a regular auto-recurring charge on it every month and then PIF.  You want to maintain your oldest account forever and not chance having it closed due to inactivity.