I like to leave a balance: Which card???

[clocktick]

Another example.

Say I have a credit card with a $1200 limit.  I charge $1000.  I don't do a thing and now the statement generates, say Aug. 25.  Because I didn't do a thing, my high balance for the month, $1000, is reported to the credit agencies which is 83% utilization!  That looks almost maxed out!  Not good.  Under 9% is recommended. 

Second scenario.  I have that same card with a $1200 limit.  I charge $1000.  I know the statement comes out Aug. 25 so BEFORE this date I pay down to, say, $100.  Now, on Aug. 25, it shows I have a $100 balance which equals 8.3% utilization, which is under the recommended 9% and is nowhere near looking like I'm maxing the card out!  This $100 balance will be reported to the credit agencies and now I can safely pay this $100 by the due date and never pay a dime of interest.  Ever.

Understand?

[Anonymous]

So the $100 will be on the next statement that you have to pay by the due date, in September from that recent example.

[Anonymous]

Correct.  Whatever balance is on your statement is the amount due by the next due date to avoid interest. If you don't care what is reported to CRAs, you can just pay the statement balance and ignore the current balance(except for budgeting/spend monitoring of course).