Hello jm9988, and Welcome to the Forum.
The Due Date of your credit card, is when your payment is due. The Statement Date is when your new statement generates.
I'm going to tell you what I do. This is what works for me.
I always pay my credit cards in full. The only way that doesn't happen, is if I have a credit card with an intro APR of 0% until a certain date, otherwise always paid in full. No need to pay interest charges when I don't have to.
This is what I call the credit card game as far as payment is concerned.
For instance, My Discover Card is due on the 18th of every month. My new statement cuts on the 24th of each month. (Statement Open Date of the 24th - Statement End Date of the 23rd).
So lets say I have a Current Balance of $400.00, but my Statement Balance is $300.00. To pay my card in full and avoid finance charges, I only have to satisfy the $300.00 payment, because that is what my Statement Balance is for the month.
After paying my Statement Balance, my Current Balance is now $100.00. That $100.00 amount is what will reflect on my next statement (and credit report) that ends on the 23rd, but cuts on the 24th, unless I charge something else before the statement date ends, (which is the 23rd, the End date referenced above). Say I charge $200 more dollars by the 23rd, the Statement End Date, then my Statement Balance, and my Current Balance will reflect $300.00. The $100.00 left over from my Current Balance, and the new $200.00 I charged before my statement end date. My Statement Balance is what has to be paid to avoid finance charges for that month's charges.
Now this is where it gets fun for me. Say, my Current Balance was still the $100.00 left over from last month's Current Balance. I got my eye on something, but don't want to pay it on the 18th of the next month when my Statement Balance will be due. I WAIT until the 24th of the month, because my Statement end date was the 23rd. Now, anything I charge from the 24th of the month, until the 23rd of the next month, won't be due until the following 18th. Almost 2 months after the purchase date. My Statement Balance will be $100.00, even though I charged $500.00 on the 24th. Had I charged it on the 23rd, by Statement Balance would be $600.00. But my Current Balance is $600.00, and my Statement Balance is $100.00, which is what I have to pay, and what will be reflected on my credit report, without paying interest charges.
For instance. Sorry so long, just like to give visuals.
Statement Balance of $300.00 due August 18th (This reflects charges from June 24th - July 23rd). Current Balance $400.00 because I charged $100.00 after July 24th, my Statement closing date was July 23rd. Those charges weren't reflected on the current statement due on August 18th, they don't have to be paid until September 18th.
Hope this helps. Sorry if I confused you more. Just be responsible. You'll be alright. I don't charge what I can't afford to pay off. I learned the hard way, and you can't pay me to go through that again.
FYI: If you pay your balance in full, and want a balance to show for credit reporting purposes, just charge something before the statement end date....whatever amount you want to show on your credit report. That beats leaving a balance to be charged interest on, for credit reporting purposes...Just my opinion!
