Credit Cards Can Be Rewarding

If you shop at Target as much as I do then you probably have a Target REDcard.  The REDcard is just a VISA card issued through Target.  I know...just the word credit card has some of you clicking to my next posting as soon as possible!  Credit cards are a wonderful thing when they are used correctly.  I hate those financial advisers who act as though using one is a financial sin.  The only way people get into trouble with credit cards is to spend beyond their means and not be able to pay the bill at month's end.  Even though you swipe that card, you still need to look at it as cash out of your pocket.  There are so many benefits you can get by using credit cards but people are missing out on these for fear of simply using one.  For example, as of October 17th, you will save 5% on your total purchase at Target every time you use your Target REDcard.  It may not seem like much but that really adds up!

I use a credit card everywhere.  I hardly ever have cash.  I have what's called the Chase Freedom card and my research showed it to be the best cash back credit card.  I make up to 5% cash back on every purchase.  Once we have $200 saved up in cash back rewards, we request a check and they send us $250!  No that's not a typo, we get $250 once we reach $200 cash back.  We make sure to put high dollar payments on our credit card for things like hotel stays and vacations.  I monitor our account online, sometimes daily, to make sure we stay on budget.  It really helps me out because I can see exactly what we are spending on what.  Something that wouldn't be so easy if I was paying cash for everything.  So even though we constantly use a credit card, we still stay on budget and think about what we are spending each time we slide that little piece of plastic.  If you can do that, credit cards can be very rewarding!

Some of you may need to get a credit card without benefits to help build your credit.  If you are not accepted to receive your average credit card, check out this website.  They list cards that typically accept those with a less than average credit.  The APR may be high but that shouldn't matter to you because you will never get in a situation where you will have to pay interest, right!  Remember the main goal of having a credit card is to pay the bill in full at the end of the month which means you must watch your spending all month long.  Try to find a card without a fee but you may have to pay a small fee if your credit is bad.  This is also a way to improve your credit.  Get a credit card in your name and pay it off each month, never paying any interest and see if your credit score goes up.