Getting the Most Out of Your Cash Back Credit Card

As most people already know, we’re living in an age in which credit has become an absolute necessity when it comes to managing our budgets and consolidating our monthly expenses. As a result, the business of providing credit is becoming more and more competitive. Most credit companies know that it’s no longer enough to simply offer consumers the convenience of using credit. Today’s credit users expect something a little extra to make selecting one program over another worth it and what would be more “worth it” than getting cashback from your credit provider every month simply for using your credit card the way you normally do anyway? However, as is the case with every type of card, getting the most out of a cashback credit card requires prudence and care on the part of the consumer. By following a few simple guidelines, you can effectively make your credit company pay you just for using their services.

Don’t spend just for the sake of racking up cash rewards.

The best way to get the most out of your cashback rewards credit card is to think of the cash rewards you’re earning as a “thank you” from the credit provider for using your card the way you normally do. Don’t make the common mistake of seeing the rewards as an acceptable excuse to overspend or abuse your credit. You’ll quickly find yourself to be the proud owner of a sky-high credit balance that you’re likely not able to stay on top of and any rewards that you do earn will quickly be eaten up by interest on the money owed.

Pay your balance off in full every month.

To get the absolute most out of your cashback card, you should make it a point to always pay your balance off in full at the end of each billing cycle. That way you will never have to pay any interest and are effectively making money you wouldn’t have otherwise by using your cashback rewards card. Avoid the temptation of using your credit to live beyond your means the way many people do. Instead, try to use it as a handy tool to consolidate your monthly bills and organize your expenses. This is a simple and effective way to maximize the rewards you earn without actually giving yourself any additional debt to fret about.

Know your credit terms of use inside out.

Each cash back rewards credit card is different when it comes to the terms, rules, and limits that get attached to the consumer’s use of it. Does your cashback program feature a limit or cap on the dollar amount of rewards you can earn per month or year? Are you eligible to earn your rewards at higher rates for certain types of purchases – gasoline or groceries, for example? It is your job to know the answers to these and any similar questions if you really want to get the most out of your card.

When it comes right down to it, making the decision to fill out a cash back credit card application is just like every other important choice in life. The key to getting the best possible results lies in making smart decisions, being informed, and being responsible at all times.

Apply for cash back credit cards to start earning cash back. Or if you prefer to travel, apply for an airline credit card.

Improving Your Credit Score

Even if it is just a few days late, just one overdue payment-whether it’s for your mortgage, a utility bill, an auto loan, a Visa account, or any of a hundred other credit obligations-could seriously damage your FICO score. FICO pays a lot of attention to whether you start a pattern of missing due dates, so a series of late payments can really hurt your score.

It’s not too late to straighten up your act. Get yourself current as quickly as you can and then remain current. Your score will begin to increase within six months- and the longer you keep it up, the more noticeable the increase will be. The negative weight FICO gives to bad behavior like delinquencies lessens over time, so as long as you stay on the right path, those black marks will eventually disappear from your record for good.

Of all the factors you are able to control-and improve quickly-the amount you owe is probably the most powerful. Say you’ve got a $1,000 balance on card with a $2,000 credit limit-and then the card company slashes your limit to $1,000. Suddenly, you’ve gone from 50% credit utilization to being maxed out, and being maxed out might cost you as much as 100 points.

Closing old accounts shortens your credit history and reduces your total credit-neither of which is good for your FICO score. If you have to close an account, close a relatively new one and keep the older ones open. Also, closing an account will not remove a bad payment record from your report. Accounts that are closed are listed with active ones.

The best way to increase your score is to show that you are able to handle credit responsibly-which means not taking too much and paying back what you do borrow on time. Do not open new accounts just to raise your available credit or create a better variety of credit. This is especially true if you’re just beginning to establish a credit history.

When you apply for a loan, the lender will “run your credit”-that is, send an inquiry to a credit rating agencies to figure out if you are credit worthy. Too many such inquiries might hurt your FICO score, since that can indicate you are trying to borrow money from many different sources.

The FICO scoring system is designed to allow for this by considering the length of time over which a series of inquiries are made. Try to do all your loan shopping within 30 days, so the inquiries get tied together and it is obvious to FICO that you are loan shopping.

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