How to avoid getting overwhelmed with credit card debt

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with credit card debt  

It starts with spending more than normal to try earning extra rewards or points.  It continues with treating everyone to drinks at the bar or food at the fancy restaurant.  It continues with buying the newest iGadget update.  

Then it can end up with overwhelming debt.  Full statement balance payments get reduced to minimum credit card payments.  This can lead to barely making the minimum payments.  It can lead to late or missing payments, then a ruined credit score.  

Next thing you know, you can get denied for an auto loan, a mortgage loan, an apartment, or even employment – due to your ruined credit. 

Credit cards can empower you and make you feel wealthier than you really are. They can also destroy you.  

Credit cards can also provide tons of rewards if used wisely.  I'm a big advocate of making all purchases possible on a credit card for the protection, benefits, rewards, and tracking of purchases.  The key with credit card use is responsibly maximizing cash/points/miles back on normal purchases and conscious spending.

How do you use credit responsibly?

1. Always track your spending

If you don't know how much you spend each day, week, or month, how will you know where your money is going?  How will you know how much money you have left in your checking account to pay off your credit card statement in full?  Don't wait for your statement to find out how much debt you're in.  

Here are the tools that I use track my spending:

     - Mint.com

     - Clearcheckbook.com 

    

I frequently make payments to the account to bring down the total balance

2.  Pay off your credit card balance frequently and in full

Did you know, you don't have to wait to pay off your total statement balance when you receive your bill?  Most credit card companies allow you to make multiple online payments per statement period.  As soon as a few credit card charges clear and get posted, you can pay off that amount.  Online payment is fast and easy.  I'm not saying to pay off every single charge immediately, because some banks do limit the amount of payments you can make to your credit card per statement period.  However, paying off your credit card several times a month is a good way to keep your credit card balance in check.  Regardless of whether you make one credit card payment or several payments, make sure you always pay off your statement balance in full.  

I've called a few major banks and found out the following information on making multiple online payments to your credit card within each statement period:

Chase has no limit for the number of payments which can be made towards your monthly statement, however you can only make one online payment within a period of three days (the time it takes a payment to clear).

Citibank allows 4 online payments per statement period.

American Express and Bank of America both have no limit to the number of online payments per statement, although you need to allow at least 24 hours to pass prior to making another payment.

Disclaimer: these are the details for the credit cards that I use.  You should call the number on the back of your card to make sure which payment policy applies to your credit card. 

3. Don’t charge with a credit card what you can’t pay in cash  

Having credit cards don’t hurt you, but maxing them out does.  Don't spend more on your credit card than you normally would just to try to earn some extra rewards or points.  It's hard to get rich from cash back.  Credit card interest rates average around 12% and can be over 29% APR.  Any balance you carry on your credit card negates any rewards earned. 61% of Americans carry a credit card balance every month; don't be one of them.

By following these simple rules, you'll get rewarded for your wise credit card spending habits.  Rewards can include: extra cash back, free gift cards, free flights, free hotel stays, and more.  

In our case, we will have enough rewards for a free honeymoon (flight, hotel, and entertainment)!