There's no denying it, folks, these days the credit card has become a piece, or rather, a fundamental item, (and totally indispensable) in the daily lives of many Brazilians.
We can summarize it as follows: practical, safe and quite convenient, they offer all of us consumers a series of advantages, but can also bring many other disadvantages if used incorrectly.
To help you use your credit card consciously and in a healthy way – we have produced today’s article with tips for using your credit card in your daily life without losing control!
The first tip to avoid problems with your credit card is to keep your finances organized. Unfortunately, Brazilians still don't have the habit of planning and organizing their finances – a fundamental task for avoiding the credit card trap.
To really organize your personal finances every month, it is worth using online financial control tools, or even using the old technique: paper and pen. Keep the habit of writing down all your monthly income and expenses – including credit card expenses, which are the most important.
This financial organization is more than essential for those who do not want to spend more than they can afford on their credit card. Knowing what you can and cannot buy without getting into debt is essential to keeping your credit card bill up to date.
Systematically organizing all your credit card expenses is also part of good financial planning. However, consumers must follow this control to the letter, as the anxiety or excitement generated by the possibility of purchasing an item, for example, can leave us in debt for a long period of time.
To avoid credit card traps and not lose control, you need to go beyond financial organization: you need to know when to make a certain purchase, whether in cash or in installments, so as not to compromise your finances.
Try to control your credit card spending in installments or in cash and check your card status frequently – for example, by checking your outstanding bill. Good control of your credit card spending can help you identify when it is worth making a certain purchase or not, in order to avoid not only exceeding your credit card limit, but also exceeding your monthly budget and financial planning limit.
Payment in cash
We always recommend it! It is almost always the best option for those who do not want to get into debt or lose control of their credit card spending. In addition to allowing immediate payment of a certain purchase, paying in cash allows the consumer to negotiate discounts when purchasing a product or service – which are usually always more attractive for those who are willing to pay in cash.
Despite this, there are situations in which paying in installments can also be worthwhile, such as in a sale, for example.
And finally! However, even in these situations, the consumer must pay maximum attention to their card limit and their own financial planning.