If you\u2019re in any kind of debt, it\u2019s a fair bet that your credit cards are the biggest culprits. But first thing is first; credit cards can be a good thing when they\u2019re used wisely. There are some great deals around like 0% interest for six months and even a \u2018standard\u2019 credit card can be a good option for those who use them sensibly. That\u2019s because they provide free or cheap insurance on purchases, interest-free credit, and other rewards, plus legal purchase protection etc.<\/p>\n
Credit cards also allow you to make big purchases with relative ease. And all this is great news for those people who\u00a0aren’t\u00a0in debt and who use them well. But for those of us struggling to make ends meet and trying to pay off our debts, credit cards can be like drugs; it\u2019s all too easy to spend on them and push the debt and associated interest payments to the back of your mind.<\/p>\n
And if you\u2019re one of the majority of people who find it too easy to let credit card debt slide out of control, then please be clear; credit card debt is one for the most expensive forms of debt around. And to compound matters (literally\u2026) what many people do is to meet the minimum monthly repayment only, so the total amount owed goes up and up.<\/p>\n
The reality is that if you can afford to pay just a little bit extra off your card each month (or better yet the entire amount) you can take many years off your repayment period.<\/p>\n
So pay off as much as you can possibly afford; it will be money well spent. And if you can manage without the credit cards in the meantime, then cut them up and throw them in the trash can.<\/p>\n
A good option is to try and\u00a0organize\u00a0a balance transfer to a 0% or lower-rate credit card. But even then \u2013 always increase your monthly repayment to as much as you can comfortably afford.<\/p>\n