Three tips to make the most out of your credit card in 2016
For many people, January聽means resolving to聽shed bad habits and develop good ones. That can apply to how you聽use and manage your credit cards, too.
Every month, NerdWallet rounds up a new set of credit card tips to help you maximize rewards and minimize costs with each swipe. Here are our tips for January 2016.
Opt in to bonus categories
For those聽who carry聽a cash-back card with rotating bonus categories, January is more than just the start of the new year 鈥斅爄t鈥檚 also the time to opt in to your first quarterly category.
Most credit cards that offer bonus cash back (usually 5%)聽on changing categories require you to opt in, or 鈥渁ctivate,鈥� each聽bonus category before you get the higher reward rate. Typically, the bonus applies to up to $1,500 in spending per quarter 鈥� so failing to聽opt in means missing out on up to $75 in free money. Opting in is also a good way to remind yourself what the current bonus category is so you can be sure to swipe the right card at the places where you鈥檒l earn the most rewards.
To remind yourself of the quarterly category changes throughout the year, we recommend setting calendar alerts. Opting in聽only takes a moment, but it聽ensures you get聽most out of your 5% bonus card.
Consider a balance transfer card
For many, the joy of holiday giving is followed by聽the pain of holiday credit card bills. But it鈥檚 possible to get聽extra time to pay those bills without racking up interest. Balance transfer credit cards allow you to move an interest-accumulating balance from one card to a card that delays charging interest for a certain period of time, usually 12 months or more. Your balance won鈥檛 go away, and you still should pay it off as soon as you鈥檙e able. However,聽the聽interest-free period helps you put more money toward reducing your debt, rather than toward finance charges.
Most聽balance-transfer cards 鈥斅犅犫�� do charge a transfer fee, usually around 3% of the total amount transferred. If you鈥檙e planning to pay off your debt in just a few months, the fee might end up being more than the interest you鈥檇 save. Checking a card鈥檚 terms and conditions before applying is the best way to see whether聽transferring a balance is a viable option for you.
Design a debt payoff strategy
One New Year鈥檚 resolution that will almost always work in your favor is paying off debt. But paying down your credit cards 鈥� especially after the holiday spending season, and even with a balance-transfer option 鈥� can be challenging聽without聽a plan.
聽usually requires making more money or spending less 鈥� or both. Before the year gets into full swing, consider listing your monthly expenses one by one to see what聽you can cut out. Putting as little as an extra $10 to $20 a month toward debt payments could move聽your break-even point closer.
If you鈥檙e wondering how additional contributions might help you pay off debt even more quickly, try entering your debt numbers into our聽. Knowing how much time 鈥� and money 鈥� you can save by increasing your monthly payment is the best motivation for actually doing it.
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