As soon as some people hear the word ‘Credit Card’, they end up projecting the user as ‘Spendthrift’, ‘Financially Undisciplined’, ‘Payment Defaulter’ and so on. However, for a person who knows the basic guidelines of a credit card’s usage, they would be proudly using it.
A credit card is a two-edged sword and must be
used prudently. For the population who think a credit card is a debt trap, must
be clear, using it in the right manner the user can not only be solvent but
also rewarded.
What is this Credit Card?
A credit card is a type of lending provided by
a bank or a similar financial institution to its customers as a reserve for
their day-to-day expenses termed as ‘Credit Card Limit’. This reserve is fixed depending
on several criteria. The credit card can always come within reach when a person
is temporarily financially broke. Some card users think the credit limit is
their own money, but on the contrary, it is the bank’s money that is used by
the cardholder as it is a lending product by the bank in the form of a plastic
card.
A credit card is categorized under an ‘Unsecured
Lending’, where the borrower does not have to mortgage any of its personal belongings.
Unlike a ‘Secured Loan’, where the borrower has to mortgage an asset like property for a home loan or a vehicle for a vehicle loan.
I have sufficient cash to pay, why should I
take up a Credit Card?
“Then you are the perfect prospect for a credit
card”. If an individual has sufficient funds to pay off the card as and when demanded
by the card issuer in other words – has used the card well within its income
sources, then credit cards are a perfect gift for themselves. As they would not
only be benefitted from some rewards, but also enjoy the time until the bank
asks to pay it off. Apart from these temporary benefits, should a user maintain
his/her card(s) most healthily – by not missing even a single payment,
their credit score remains top-notch with the credit bureaus. Better the credit score, the higher the chances of getting further borrowings with any
financial institution in the future (even apply for a home loan). This Credit
score is extremely imperative in determining the creditworthiness of an individual.
Besides all, the card can always come in handy during harsh rainy days.
Perish the thought, should there be an uninvited expense like hospitalization; the patient/relative has run out of liquid funds and the patient is not covered in cash-less health insurance. This is when the credit card could land as a parachute as the hospital bill would be paid and hopefully, the patient could be back home & on the path of recovery. The patient/relative can then repay the credit card bill according to the date the bank demands or claim the insurance and then repay the card (whichever appears and realizes earlier).
Culmination
So, whether an individual is a spendthrift or a
miser, a credit card could always come in handy.
Did you know you can fly free of cost and stay
in those luxurious star hotels at no cost at the helm of credit cards? Stay
connected to know how...
Do express your opinions below in the comments
section.
PS: The above information has been penned down
by me from my experiences of not only being a credit card user but also in the
form of a former employee of a private and an international bank.
Informative and creates awareness
ReplyDeleteVery informative article about the prudent usage of credit catd
ReplyDeleteVery well written
ReplyDeleteGreat effort to spread awareness on such an important issue 👏
ReplyDelete