5 ways to misuse credit card1 of 7The road to a credit card debt pileup is often paved with good intentions. But too many well-intended moves can lead you into a financial ditch and ruin your credit.Joseph Birkofer, principal and founder of Legacy Asset Management in Houston, says the problem starts with forgetting that credit is not free money, but a loan. To avoid that trap, he suggests mentally substituting another term for "credit" that has a less positive connotation."'Credit' is a good word: I'm giving you credit for that great idea. I got extra credit for that term paper," Birkofer says. "People should kind of thumbtack it to their foreheads, so to speak, that this is not a 'good' card, it's a borrowing card."Here's how to talk yourself out of some of the worst credit card moves. Related Articles:How to get a free credit scoreHow FICO scores evolved3 ways to master credit cardsGet secured credit cards?Related Links:Store credit card: good deal?Be a savvy cardholderHow to read your credit reportRead more credit card stories advertisement
The road to a credit card debt pileup is often paved with good intentions. But too many well-intended moves can lead you into a financial ditch and ruin your credit.
Joseph Birkofer, principal and founder of Legacy Asset Management in Houston, says the problem starts with forgetting that credit is not free money, but a loan. To avoid that trap, he suggests mentally substituting another term for "credit" that has a less positive connotation.
"'Credit' is a good word: I'm giving you credit for that great idea. I got extra credit for that term paper," Birkofer says. "People should kind of thumbtack it to their foreheads, so to speak, that this is not a 'good' card, it's a borrowing card."
Here's how to talk yourself out of some of the worst credit card moves.
A little research could save you BIG on interest.