Maxing Out Credit Cards

Have you ever maxed out your credit card ….or…. credit cards?

Credit cards can either be a blessing or a curse. Those with predictable income and stable jobs enjoy the rewards of credit cards and pay them off every month.

But many can’t. They carry a balance with a high-interest rate, and accept it as a normal part of life. Others max out their credit cards! This can be costly and can usually be avoided by simple planning. 

Some 91 million Americans fear maxing out their cards on large purchases, and they should! 30% of your credit score is based on how much available credit you use. So maxed-out cards can lower your score. When balances are paid down, the credit score can recover, but you have to stop creating debt.

If you go up to the maximum limit, once the finance charges are added, you could end up over the limit. And this causes additional penalties to kick in. In fact, credit card companies have the right to raise your interest rate to the highest level if you exceed your credit limit.

This can affect the purchase of a house, because lenders may consider you a high risk. Maxed-out cards mean higher minimum payments. It could take years to repay, and you won’t have credit available in the event of an emergency.

A Wallet Hub survey revealed that one-third of consumers admit to spending more time paying off their large purchases than planning for them, and we need to reverse that.

Proverbs 21:5 says: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

So plan ahead and pay off your credit cards!

And if you’re looking for fun and informative help, go to Crown.org. We’ve created 10 date nights, or Money Dates to help spouses and engaged couples unite on the topic of money. Find out more at Crown.org.