Chapter 5 Conclusion
Most of the best tips for using a credit card wisely are just common sense.
And, really, they all boil down to two basic points:
- don’t use a credit card for impulse purchases; and
- read your statement every month.
The second point is the one that trips up most people. It’s surely
easier to pay the balance or minimum—or some amount in between—and
move on to more interesting things.
But keep in mind that errors are fairly common on credit card statements.
Even if you don’t have all of your credit card receipts handy, compare
as many as you have to the items listed in your statement to make sure the
dates and amounts are right.
Also, credit card issuers are heavily regulated. They have to publish the
changes they’re making to your account…and they do this in the
fine print at the bottom or on the back of the monthly statement. Most count
on people not reading these notices.
Don’t be that person.
Next: Chapter
6 - Dealing With Credit Bureaus |