Credit

4 Ways To Manage Credit Card Spending

Published

2 years ago

Sticking to a monthly budget can be a tricky habit to start. It takes a lot of self-control and accountability. Keeping track of funds on your debit card or in your bank account can be an easier task because the funds are limited and there are consequences for overdrawing on your account.

These consequences don’t exist for credit cards, so it can be more difficult to control your credit card spending.

Many credit card companies incentivize card use through points systems and cash-back offers; however, these incentives do not outweigh the costs of high-interest credit card debt.

Credit card companies also usually allow card holders to only pay a certain amount of the balance each month. If you’re only paying the minimum payment, the balance on your credit card is accruing interest and getting larger every day. Controlling your spending is the best way to prevent ballooning credit card debt.

Here are three things you can do to hold yourself accountable and have better control over your credit card spending:

Set a monthly limit
Use your credit card for certain expenses only
Evaluate your spending weekly
Avoid making exceptions

Set a Monthly Limit

Most credit cards come with a credit limit. The limit you qualify for usually depends on your credit history and credit score. Whatever your credit limit is, it’s a good idea not to even come close to spending that much on your credit card.

Set a personal limit for yourself for credit card spending. Make it an amount that you can pay in full at the end of each month. Check in every week to see how much you’re actually spending on your credit card, and stop once you hit your limit.

If you’re spending close to your credit limit and are having a hard time controlling your spending, you can ask your bank to lower your credit limit. This can help hold you accountable for your spending and motivate you to moderate your spending habits.

Use Your Credit Card For Certain Expenses Only

Another way to control your credit card spending is to only use it for certain expenses, like gas or groceries. It’s a good idea to use your credit card for regularly occurring expenses instead of infrequent large expenses. If you put too many large expenses on your credit card, you may not be able to pay the balance at the end of the month.

Only using your credit card for specific, regular budget items means that you’ll have fewer charges on your credit card. It can also help make the monthly bill smaller and easier to pay in full each month.

Evaluate Your Spending Weekly

If you’re not already in the habit of creating a monthly budget and evaluating your spending weekly, it’s a good habit to start. It can help you manage your overall spending and track your credit card spending. There are some great budgeting apps that make this easier.

Even though your credit card bill will come at the end of the month, consider all the charges on your card as spent money from your budget. Treating your credit card like cash instead of like a loan will make it easier to pay each monthly balance fully and avoid debt at high interest rates.

Avoid Making Exceptions

To successfully manage spending, it’s important to have strict rules and stick to them. Don’t regularly make exceptions. Consider other payment options before putting the expense on your credit card.

If you do decide to put another kind of expense on your credit card or exceed your personal monthly limit, carefully think through your plan to repay those expenses before swiping your card. You may need to lower your personal credit card spending limit to accommodate for these larger expenses. Only do this in emergency situations.

Good Spending Habits

Planning your spending each month helps you to be financially independent and experience financial freedom. Your credit card spending should be part of your monthly budget.

Tracking your spending, setting personal limits, and only using your credit card for certain purchases will help you build good credit and avoid credit card debt. Make a habit of paying the balance in full each month to avoid debt.

Financial emergencies do come up, and credit cards can be a helpful tool for dealing with these emergencies. However, it’s important that you research and evaluate other options before making an exception to your credit card spending rules. Make adjustments to your credit card rules as necessary to accommodate for these emergency expenses. If you can’t pay the full monthly balance, pay more than the minimum required to reduce your debt.

Credit

Bouncing Back: A Guide to Understanding and Recovering from Sudden Credit Score Drops

Published

1 year ago

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Experiencing a sudden decline in your credit score can be both startling and disconcerting. The number that financial institutions use to judge your creditworthiness can fluctuate for a myriad of reasons, many of which might not be immediately apparent. However, understanding the underpinnings of credit scores and the steps that can be taken to recuperate lost points is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the common culprits behind these unexpected drops and map out a clear route to credit score recovery, empowering you to regain control of your financial health.

Unveiling the Mystery: Why Did My Credit Score Drop?

Before we explore recovery tactics, let’s first examine the potential triggers of a sudden decrease in your credit score:

Inaccuracies on your credit report: Sometimes, the fault may lie with errors on your credit report. It’s not uncommon for credit reports to contain mistakes, ranging from incorrect personal information to misreported account statuses. Regularly reviewing your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus is essential.
Missed or late payments: Your payment history is the most influential factor for most credit scoring models. Even a single payment that’s 30 days late can significantly impact your score.
Increase in credit utilization: An uptick in your credit card balances can raise your credit utilization ratio, which might lead to a score decrease. Experts often recommend keeping this ratio under 30%.
Recently opened credit accounts: Opening several credit accounts in a short period can result in a minor score dip due to the hard inquiries and the average age of your credit accounts being lowered.
Closing old credit accounts: Conversely, closing your oldest accounts can shorten your credit history length and potentially lower your score.

Strategies for Credit Score Revival

Once you’ve pinpointed the cause of your credit score drop, you can implement several strategies to nurse it back to health:

Dispute Credit Report ErrorsMistakes on a credit report can be disputed by contacting the credit bureaus directly or through the assistance of a consumer financial protection bureau. Timely correction of these inaccuracies can help restore your score.
Focus on Payment PunctualityEnsure that all your bills are paid on time. Setting up automatic payments or calendar reminders can be effective ways to avoid missing due dates. Consistent, timely payments will gradually improve your score.
Reduce Outstanding BalancesWork towards lowering the balances on your credit cards and loans. The FICO score model views lower credit utilization ratios favorably. Crafting a budget that prioritizes debt reduction can be beneficial for your score.
Be Strategic About Credit ApplicationsLimit the number of new credit applications you submit. Each application can result in a hard inquiry, which can slightly damage your score. If you must apply for credit, try to do so sparingly.
Maintain a Mix of CreditHaving a variety of credit types—from credit cards to auto loans—can be positive for your score, but only if managed responsibly. This demonstrates your ability to handle different kinds of financial obligations.

Prevention: The Best Medicine

Prevention is better than cure, and this adage holds especially true when it comes to credit scores. To prevent future drops, maintain good financial habits, monitor your credit report regularly, and adjust your spending behaviors to align with your credit goals. With a proactive approach, a sudden credit score drop will be nothing more than a temporary setback on your journey to financial success.

Remember, credit score recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, discipline, and a clear understanding of the factors that influence your score. By following the guidelines outlined in this post and leveraging resources from reputable sources, you’ll be well on your way to bouncing back from a credit score dip and forging a path to a robust financial future.

Credit

From Decent to Excellent: Proven Strategies to Elevate Your 640 Credit Score and Unlock Financial Freedom

Published

1 year ago

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A 640 credit score is seen as the gateway to fair credit territory—a launchpad for individuals striving to turn their financial narrative from good to great. While this score is certainly not the bottom of the credit spectrum, it doesn’t offer the benefits that higher scores provide. By employing strategic measures to improve your credit score, you are not just brushing up a number; you’re opening a world of financial opportunities that can lead to more favorable loan terms, lower interest rates, and a sense of security. In this post, we’ll explore actionable tips to help you elevate your credit score from decent to excellent, setting the stage for financial freedom and success.

Understanding the Importance of Your Credit Score

Your credit score is a critical financial parameter that lenders use to evaluate your creditworthiness. A 640 score signals to creditors that you’re on the cusp of transitioning to a higher credit tier. By enhancing your score, you can access better financial products and services, which can significantly impact your life. Let’s take a closer look at how you can make this transition.

Review Your Credit Reports Regularly

Errors on credit reports can drag down your score. It’s essential to check your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—regularly and dispute any inaccuracies you find. This seemingly small step can have a big impact on your credit score.

Reduce Your Credit Utilization Ratio

High credit utilization can significantly lower your score. Financial experts recommend keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30%. This means if you have a credit limit of $10,000 across all cards, you should strive to owe less than $3,000 at any given time.

Strategic Actions to Boost Your Score

Elevating your credit score requires a combination of tactics and sustained effort. The following strategies are designed to help you responsibly manage credit and showcase your reliability to lenders:

Pay Your Bills on Time: Your payment history is the single most significant factor affecting your credit score. Set up reminders or automate your payments to ensure that you never miss a due date.
Avoid Taking on More Debt: While it might be tempting to open a new credit account to improve your credit mix, it’s essential to avoid incurring more debt until your score has improved.
Increase Your Credit Limits: If you have a good payment history, you may be able to negotiate higher credit limits on your existing accounts, which can help lower your overall credit utilization.

Consider a Mix of Credit

Having different types of credit—such as credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance company accounts, and mortgage loans—can benefit your score. However, it’s not wise to take out a loan you don’t need just to improve your credit mix.

Become an Authorized User

Becoming an authorized user on a family member or friend’s credit card can be a quick way to boost your score, as long as the primary cardholder has a strong payment history and keeps low balances.

Maintaining and Monitoring Your Progress

Improving your credit score is an ongoing process. You must be diligent about maintaining good credit habits and monitoring your credit score regularly. Patience is key—the results of your efforts will materialize over time as your credit history grows and your score begins to reflect your creditworthiness accurately. Embrace the journey towards financial freedom with confidence, knowing that each step you take is a move towards better financial opportunities.

By following the strategies outlined in this post and making informed decisions, you can transform a 640 credit score into a stellar financial reputation. Remember, each positive action contributes to a brighter financial future. Start today, and watch your credit score—and your financial opportunities—soar.

Credit

Is the The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card Hard to Get? What Are the Benefits?

Published

1 year ago

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The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a compelling option for those who travel frequently or spend a lot on gas. It offers a range of benefits and rewards that cater to various spending habits, especially in categories like travel, gas stations, and streaming services.

One of the standout features of this card is its reward structure. It offers 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center. Additionally, cardholders earn 4X points on travel at gas stations and EV charging stations, making it an excellent choice for road trips. For everyday spending, the card provides 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining, and on eligible streaming services, with 1X point on all other eligible purchases.

The card also comes with a lucrative sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 within the first 120 days of account opening. This bonus is equivalent to a $500 value redeemable towards travel, gift cards, cash back, merchandise, and more. Notably, points earned on the Altitude Connect Card do not expire, adding to its long-term value.

Other significant benefits include a $30 credit for annual streaming service purchases like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify®, and Apple Music. Additionally, the card offers up to $100 in statement credits for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® application fees every four years. For frequent flyers, the complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership provides access to over 1,300 VIP airport lounges worldwide, enhancing the travel experience.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is generally targeted towards individuals with good to excellent credit scores. This implies that applicants should have a well-established credit history and a high credit score to increase their chances of approval. The card has an annual fee of $95 after the first year, which is waived initially. However, it does not have foreign transaction fees, making it more appealing for international purchases.

In terms of APR, the card has a variable APR ranging from 21.24% to 29.24%. Like most credit cards, it’s important to consider this aspect, especially if you plan to carry a balance on the card. The card also offers a Pay over Time feature with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan, allowing cardholders to split eligible purchases into equal monthly payments.

Overall, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a strong contender in the category of travel and gas rewards credit cards. Its combination of high reward rates, travel perks, and streaming service credits make it a valuable card for those who spend heavily in these areas. However, potential applicants should weigh the annual fee and credit requirements against the benefits to determine if it aligns with their financial habits and goals.