Some people use credit to pay for everything from everyday purchases like groceries and meals to large purchases like vacations and big ticket items. No matter what you use credit to buy, it’s important that you use it responsibly so you don’t run into credit problems such as missing payments, overspending, or having a high credit usage ratio (to learn how to calculate your credit usage ratio, watch this quick video). Having strong credit management skills and knowledge is important to maintain a positive credit report and score which can impact your ability to buy or rent a home and obtain a job you are otherwise qualified for.
Now that you know exactly how much your purchases on credit are truly costing with interest rates and planned monthly payments factored in, you have a clearer sense of how you personally use credit. If you are looking to improve your credit management skills, checkout ACCC’s educational credit materials on everything from understanding credit reports to how to write a credit report dispute letter and a list of the 20 steps to financial health. For more tips on how to manage credit and how to reduce debt, check out the credit section on the Talking Cents blog here.
