topic Re: Credit Card Use in Credit Cards

Credit Card Use

Deltadog03 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 15:32:56 GMT

Hey everyone, thanks for all the help so far. I am not new to credit, and credit cards, but new on how to PROPERLY USE them. (2 years post BK7) I have heavily re-built, but in a very smart way. I thank yall for your help for that. I got super lucky and got some great cards, and great luck last week in getting a CLI on my Barclays rewards VISA, Discover IT, Chase Freedom, and my local CU where we refi our auto loan. Question is: how do yall use your CC a month, nothing personal or super detailed. I have heard use the IT and Freedom heavily and PIF, they like that right? My plan is to pay some bills/gas/groceries with the cards and PIF every month to get rewards...etc....is that a good start?

Re: Credit Card Use

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 15:53:00 GMT

SD 3 of them, pull them out every 3 months to buy a pack of gum

Use 1 for online purchases

Use the other for day-to-day purchases

Pay in full every month.

3 of my cards are only still open to help my util.

Re: Credit Card Use

MissMoni223 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 15:52:53 GMT

I like to use my cards based on the rewards that they provide. With Discover It and Chase Freedom, I only use during the 5% Category to maximize my cashback. My Barclays Rewards MC offers 2x points on utilities, so that's my every month card to pay for utilities. My USAA AMEX offers 2.25% cashback on groceries and gas, so when those are not in 5% categories on Discover or Freedom, then I use that as my go to card for groceries and gas. You definitely have to look at the rewards that each of your cards provide and maximize how that will benefit you.

Re: Credit Card Use

Deltadog03 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:01:05 GMT

Thank you everyone! So basically use them for things you would usually use from your "debit card" or from your "paycheck" (since you have that money set aside for it already, and just kind of pay yourself back?) So use the cards to pay them, then use that mula from the above to pay it? So no extra money a month out of pocket, but get the rewards benefits plus heavy use of cards? Hope that made sense...Thank you again~!

Re: Credit Card Use

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:21:48 GMT

@Deltadog03 wrote:
Thank you everyone! So basically use them for things you would usually use from your "debit card" or from your "paycheck" (since you have that money set aside for it already, and just kind of pay yourself back?) So use the cards to pay them, then use that mula from the above to pay it? So no extra money a month out of pocket, but get the rewards benefits plus heavy use of cards? Hope that made sense...Thank you again~!

Yes, if you want to avoid going into debt, only use your card on what you can comfortably afford. None of the "I'll figure it out by the end of the month" mentality, that'll get you in trouble.

Re: Credit Card Use

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:50:30 GMT

@Deltadog03 wrote:
Thank you everyone! So basically use them for things you would usually use from your "debit card" or from your "paycheck" (since you have that money set aside for it already, and just kind of pay yourself back?) So use the cards to pay them, then use that mula from the above to pay it? So no extra money a month out of pocket, but get the rewards benefits plus heavy use of cards? Hope that made sense...Thank you again~!

Personally, I never use debit cards. If i'm going to get hit with fraud on my card, i'd much rather have it be the banks money that is lost instead of mine.

Re: Credit Card Use

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:33:42 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Deltadog03 wrote:
Thank you everyone! So basically use them for things you would usually use from your "debit card" or from your "paycheck" (since you have that money set aside for it already, and just kind of pay yourself back?) So use the cards to pay them, then use that mula from the above to pay it? So no extra money a month out of pocket, but get the rewards benefits plus heavy use of cards? Hope that made sense...Thank you again~!
Personally, I never use debit cards. If i'm going to get hit with fraud on my card, i'd much rather have it be the banks money that is lost instead of mine.

If I had higher than 28k income, I'd probably be like that too.

Re: Credit Card Use

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:01:39 GMT

Right now, I only have 2 credit cards (both Capital One Quicksilver):

1 credit card is for all monthy bills that I can charge (car insurance, health insurance, at&t bill, etc)
1 credit card is for all other miscellaneous purchases (food, gas, groceries, shopping, etc)

I never use my debit card, everything that can be charged goes on the credit cards and I pay them both in full the day my statement cuts to minimize utilization. With only 2 cards, it is extremely easy to make sure I stay on budget and don't overspend. My "monthly bills" card is the exact same every month and I know I should only put (for example) $1,000 or less on my "miscellaneous" card every month.

I do want 2 more cards though (for the rewards) and once I get them I would use them like this:

Sallie Mae for gas/groceries/Amazon
Barclay Arrival for travel and dining
1 Quicksilver for monthly recurring bills
1 Quicksilver for everything else

It will be a bit tougher (for me) to make sure I don't go over my budget, having 3 cards that I count as "miscellaneous" spending but I think I can juggle it.

I guess to answer your question, I only untilize 20% or less (most of the time 10%) on each card up to the statement cut and I pay it in full right after (well before the due date)

Re: Credit Card Use

Deltadog03 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:26:43 GMT

Awesome! Thank you everyone! I guess I should have realized this before now...DUH Chris...haha I appreciate it