The average American has more than $9,000 in credit card debt. While having a credit card isn’t a bad thing, letting credit card debt pile up over time can place an enormous strain on your finances. Take a look at the articles, Q&A’s, blog posts and videos we have linked to this topic for ideas on how to handle credit card debt and your personal finances.
Nine Reasons To Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt
While paying the minimum amount owed each month, on time, shouldn't damage your credit score, there are good reasons to pay off your credit card debts, not to mention your other loans like auto loans and school loans, and wipe your credit slate clean. Stop paying interest. Keep credit open in case of an emergency. Improve your credit to be able to receive the best credit card offers.
How To Pay Down Your Credit Card Debt
When you're ready to get rid of credit card debt, making smart choices can help you eliminate your balance faster. First, stop adding to the debt, and wait until you have the cash to make any purchases. When it comes to paying off your credit card debt, the smartest move you can make it to pay the debt carrying the highest interest rate first.
Pay Off Credit Card Debt
You'll never get anywhere in life with credit card debt. Pay off your credit cards before making any large purchase like a house. Only charge what you can afford to pay off at the end of each month.
Recent Death Reveals Credit Card Debt
What happens to your credit card debt after you die? When you die, and there are no assets in the estate, the debts die with you as long as no one else held those credit cards.
Personal Finance Management: Pay Credit Card Debt Before Car Loans
If you have extra cash, what should you pay off first to boost your personal finances: credit card debt or car loans? Ilyce recommends paying off high interest credit card debt with extra cash before car loans and other loans. Credit card debt usually has higher interest than a car loan, so paying off credit card debt first and prepaying a car loan later is the best first step to personal finance management.
Pay Off High-Interest Credit Cards First
You should always pay off your high-interest, non-deductible debts first. When you prepay a debt, you're effectively earning the interest rate the debt carries on each dollar. Once your debts are paid off, you start savings the cash you would have paid each month to service the debt. Consider using your tax refund to pay credit card debt, or take out a home equity loan with a lower interest rate than your credit cards.
Credit Card Debt: Pay Off And Improve Credit Score
After making numerous credit mistakes, can you consolidate your debt and improve your credit score? A debt management program probably won't help you pay off the debt and instead may lower your credit score. Ilyce's advice: get a second job, pay off the debt and improve your credit score.
Choosing A Credit Card For Your Financial Situation
There are different ways to approach the idea of credit and credit cards, and you need to sit down and ask yourself what's best for you. If you pay off your balance each month, look for a card that offers you rewards for your purchases. If you're going to carry a balance, you should be much more interested in the interest rate, and fees charged by the card you're carrying.