Credit card is a convenient way of banking. It has made banking easy over the course of years. They can also save you money if you know how to use them effectively.
Credit cards will allow you to have funds to pay for goods and services. If you have ever used a credit card, you would know that you can buy things without spending any of your money initially. However, credit card holders are expected to pay back the borrowed money and a little additional interest later.
Types Of Credit Cards
There are some major types of credit cards which also include Visa, Mastercard, and other types of Discover, along with American Express.
They are issued by different banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to attract customers by providing them incentives such as hotel room bookings, gift cards, discounts, airline miles, and cash back on purchases.
Credit cards will reward their users for ensuring customer loyalty. Some stores even offer credit cards so that customers can purchase from retailers. They will provide customers with promotional notices, special sales, discounts, and other perks.
Some credit card users will be allowed a separate cash line of credit (LOC) so that they can borrow cash money in advance using a credit card. However, cash advances have some disadvantages, including higher interest rates and no grace period.
How Can Credit Cards Save You Money On Travel Holidays?
Credit cards are a good way to spend money on holidays.
Here are the ways you can use credit cards to save money. You can click here to get details about credit card spending.
Transfer Balances
If you are using a credit card with a humongous balance and a higher interest rate. Then you can transfer that amount to a credit card with lower interest rates. This 0% APR balance transfer will offer you some time to ease up your payment with accumulating interest.
According to data, if you move a $3,000 balance at 17% to a credit card with a 0% APR, you will save upto $400. After that, if you pay on a monthly basis, you will end up gaining money in the process.
Credit Card & Rewards
If you are accustomed to paying with credit cards on holidays. Then you should use a reward credit card to save yourself some money. If you are using a reward credit card during holiday seasons, you can earn rewards, points, miles, and cash back rewards for your every payment.
The more you use these reward cards to purchase, the more you will earn points and save money. Some reward cards even allow cash back on eligible purchases. You can redeem those points to travel or to buy more merchandise.
However, reward cards will have annual fees that you have to pay at the year-end. So, you can manage your finances according to your needs by comparing the values of the yearly rewards and the annual payment fee.
Some reward cards will not offer you a grace period. A grace period is considered the time between the last billing cycle and the date of due payment. During this time, the credit card issuer might not charge you any interest since you are supposed to pay your balance on the expected day.
Interest Rates
You can use a card with a 0% introductory rate, where you won’t be charged interest on purchases for a certain time period. You can pay off your credit card balances before the due date to avoid interest rates.
In introductory offers, you are expected to make payments on time. If you make late payments, your introductory officer can revoke the offer. They can impose interest rates on the remaining balances. So, pay even a minimal amount before the due time.
If you want to avoid paying any extra charges during your 0% promotional introductory offer, then you should calculate each amount you have to pay on a monthly basis. So that you can reach a 0 balance when the introductory offer ends.
You can Avail Balance Transfer Offer
Balance transfer offers are similar to that promotional interest rates, but instead of making any purchase, you are expected to pay your already existing credit card debt.
A balance transfer card will let you move your remaining balance from one credit card to another one. However, the amount of balance you can move depends on the transfer limit.
Some credit card companies will charge minimal fees to complete the transfer. The fees range from 3-5% of the transferred amount. If you are managing finances on a holiday evening, you should calculate the amount you need to transfer.
Track Every Purchase
You should be tracking your every purchase. No, you don’t have to write down your every purchase but tracking is an easier option with credit cards.
You can simply log into your online account using a credit card and review the statement. If you are aware of your spending data, then it can be easier to calculate the amount you have to repay in the end.
You can check your account statement and categorize your expenses to build a budget that suits you.
You Can Earn Free Travel For Your Holidays Too!
When it comes to travel, it is very important to manage finances. However, spending a lot of cash on the way to travel can get stressful.
However, the reward credit cards will allow you to have a smooth ending in the holiday season. You can earn miles or points you can redeem for a free flight and hotel stay.
These free flights can also be used for annual vacations and travel. You can even avail of car rental agencies if you are not too keen on flying.
A credit card can be a fitting approach for arranging that holiday travel you’ve been planning for a long time. There are also cashback benefits that can save you a lot of money. And you can also benefit from repaying your credits till your grace period lasts.
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Subham Shah is a marketing professional tasked with managing different facets of digital marketing. He helps businesses with different SaaS startups, their planning, and execution. He might be a millennial but has a soft heart of old-school hard rock and metal music.
