With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, consumers tend to rely more heavily on credit cards to carry us through a period of higher spending. With the proper planning, and money set aside to pay off those credit cards come January, there shouldn’t be a problem. But, in an effort to further help consumers, we’ve put together 5 credit mistakes to avoid this holiday season. This way, you can have fun, spend responsibly, and avoid accruing excess credit card debt!
Here’s ACCC’s take on credit mistakes to avoid this holiday season.
Credit Mistakes to Avoid this Holiday Season
The last thing you want is the holidays to cause financial stress when they should be bringing joy. To ensure your holidays are merry & bright, here are 5 credit mistakes to avoid this holiday season.
- Opening up store credit cards. This is one of the most important credit mistakes to avoid this holiday season. Store credit cards usually have very high APRs. Many people make the mistake of not paying off their balance in full. As a result, they end up paying interest for months to come.
- Maxing out your card. Giving gifts is great – but not at the expense of your financial health! Don’t hit or exceed your credit limit. That’s something our debt counselors can’t stress enough all year round. This will not only lower your credit score but get you in unnecessary consumer debt.
- Getting a cash advance. Banks & credit card issuers will send offers during the holiday season. Be aware that cash advances are not “free” money. They come with costly fees and high-interest charges.
- Accepting interest-deferred offers. Zero percent interest promotions are another temptation to avoid. You should repay the balance before the promotion period ends. If not, this credit trap can cost you hundreds of dollars.
- Shopping on unsecured sites. Shopping on unsecured sites can result in many consequences. These include ID theft, fraudulent purchases, & spyware or malware. Make sure to shop from reputable retailers & sites only.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
