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Hoots : What are the advantages of using credit card to pay most of expenses? If I will pay most of my expenses via credit card, then is it correct to assume the following points? 1) My saving account interest rate will increase - freshhoot.com

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What are the advantages of using credit card to pay most of expenses?
If I will pay most of my expenses via credit card, then is it correct to assume the following points?

1) My saving account interest rate will increase by somewhat (interest
is calculated upon daily balance) because previously I use cash or
Debit card when I go shopping, which means expenses are be deducted
from my Debit Card (link with my saving account) instantly.

2) I can also earn some amount of money back because of my cash
back credit card. Previously I used a debit card which offers quite lower cash back
percentage than the credit card (0.3% usually at least 1%).

What other advantages are there?

Important point to assume: I will pay the Credit Card bill immediately upon receiving it, thus no need to worry about recurring interest for credit card.


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There are lots of things to consider in addition to your questions. The rules changed in the US recently.

I think you mean you will save more money. Your interest rate isn't likely to go up, but your principle will, so you will earn more interest income than before. I would wager it won't be a significant amount however.
You can certainly earn a reward, either cash back, points, miles or something else.

BUT the sticking point with earning things with your card is harder than before. Due to rules changes, merchants can now recuperate the fees they pay for accepting your credit card. Rewards cards have a higher fee than non-rewards cards (because banks aren't in charities). So now, depending on the merchant's choice, you could see a higher cost paying with a credit card (or a debit card) and that cost could wipe out your reward.

And if your card has a fee, it has always been true that you need to evaluate the annual fee to confirm the benefit is more than paying for the fee.

Additional advantages to credit cards

You often get extended warranty periods on purchases for free.
The laws in a dispute are more favorable for a credit card than a debit card
In case of fraud you are protected as you have to settle up a credit card opposed to having the money disappear with a debit. It is harder to retrieve money than it is to not pay a bill.
Some cards have additional insurance protection for purchases and rentals
Some cards can be tied to a savings program
Some cards offer one time usage numbers for online shopping
When a merchant wants a deposit, it is better to use a credit card rather than commit funds from a checking account with a debit card for a deposit.


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Correct. By putting expenses on to a credit card which does not charge interest during the grace period, and paying that balance every month, in effect you earn interest on money you've already spent.

However, first, savings account interest is something like .05% right now depending on your bank. Yeah it's money, but seriously, that's 4 cents per month on 00.

Second, two things can make this very wrong. If you carry a balance, you'll pay much more in interest than you'd get from practically any investment you could make with the cash in the meantime. Second, a debit card can be used to get cash you already have from an ATM (not everyone takes credit, you know), and it'll cost you little or nothing. Use a credit card for the same purpose and you're paying 40% from the second the money comes out of the machine.
Also correct. Rewards cards earn you more the more they're used. That's because the card issuer makes money based on usage; they get 3% of each transaction. They're happy to turn 1% of that, up to a limit or subject to a spending floor, back around to you.

Again, check the terms and conditions. Most cards have a limit on total rewards. Many of them also have fees, either while you hold the card or when you try to redeem the rewards. Look for a card with high limits or no limits on rewards from spending, and with no annual fee or reward redemption fee.
In addition to the above, you build good credit history with good spending patterns. However, your credit score can fluctuate wildly, because on one day you have very low leverage (percent of credit limit used), and on the next you've bought 0 in groceries and so your leverage went up 20% on a card with a 00 limit. Leverage under 10% is good, leverage under 40% is OK and leverage over that starts looking bad. With a 00 limit, with you maxing it out and then paying it off, your credit score can fluctuate by 30 points on any given day.


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Assumptions 1 & 2 are correct. Plus you will improve on credit score.

The only disadvantage is if you get lax about it and overspend beyond your limit ...
Plus a small risk of fraud of card transactions ...


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You have 3 assumptions about the use of credit cards for all your purchases:

1) May be a moot point. At current interest rates that will not make much of a difference. If somebody links their card to a checking account that doesn't pay any interest there will be no additional interest earned. If the rate on their account is <1% they may make a couple of dollars a month.

2) Make sure that the card delivers on the benefits you expect. Don't select a card with an annual fee. Cash is better than miles for most people. Also make sure the best earnings aren't from only shopping at one gas station or one store. You might not make as much as you expect. Especially if the gas station is generally the most expensive in the area. Sometimes the maximum cash back is only for a limited time, or only after you have charged thousands of dollars that year.

3) It can have a positive impact on your credit rating. I have also found that the use of the credit card does minimize the chances of accidentally overdrawing the linked account. There is only one big scheduled withdraw a month, instead of dozens of unscheduled ones.

There is some evidence that by disconnecting the drop in balance from the purchase, people spend more. They say I am getting X% back, but then are shocked when they see the monthly bill.


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