Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

  • Home
  • About
  • Melissa Recommends
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Powered by Genesis

Why I Prefer to Pay with a Credit Card

May 8, 2023 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Two credit cards sitting on a table

I’ve been interested in personal finance, budgeting, and money management for at least 25 years. During that time, I have repeatedly seen the advice to pay cash to best manage your money. Proponents argue that paying cash limits spending and makes you feel pain, so you won’t want to spend as freely. However, I prefer to pay with a credit card. I’ve tried paying with cash, and I find it a hassle.

Why I Prefer to Pay with a Credit Card

There are several reasons why I prefer to pay with a credit card.

Keep Track of Spending

When I pay with a credit card, I can keep track of my spending. Whenever I pay with cash, I forget what I bought and have no record unless I got a receipt and saved that. With my credit card, I can go to the credit card statement and see what I spent where.

Convenience

Paying with a credit card is more convenient. When I experimented with using cash, two things often happened. First, I would forget my cash, get to the store, and realize I had no money. I’d have to drive back home to get my cash. Second, if I went to a gas station, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my young children in the car alone while I paid. I would have to get them out of the car to pay the cashier in the store. What a pain! Swiping a credit card at the pump was easier and safer.

Accumulate Rewards

I always use credit cards that have rewards programs. We pay them off at least every month, sometimes weekly. Because we use the cards responsibly, we aren’t stuck paying interest fees.

When we lived in Arizona, I used the credit card rewards to pay for our trips back home to Michigan. I would save rewards for a year or two until we had enough money to finance our trip. Now, my husband and I have moved closer to family, so we are using the rewards to plan international travel.

Extended Warranties

Many credit cards offer extended warranties. For instance, we recently bought a laptop and a new dryer. We charged both purchases on our American Express card because American Express offers extended warranties, saving us money from purchasing additional protection.

Rental Car Insurance

Another perk of paying with a credit card is that some cards offer car insurance for rental cars. Rental car insurance can run several hundred dollars, so this is a considerable saving. However, ensure you know what card offers this service and use that car to pay for your rental.

Protected from Theft

Thief dressed in black with a black mask holding a stack of money

If you carry cash and lose your money or it’s stolen, you’re out of luck. That money is gone. However, if you use a credit card and someone fraudulently charges something, the credit card company will erase that charge. You are not responsible. That alone is an excellent reason to pay with credit cards rather than cash.

Maintains Credit Score

A sound credit card is essential for low car loans and mortgage interest rates. In addition, a good credit score can save you money on your car insurance and help you rent an apartment.

When you use a credit card regularly and pay it off, you help build or maintain your credit score. Cash cannot do that.

Two Drawbacks to Paying with a Credit Card

Of course, there are two drawbacks to using a credit card for most of your spending.

Credit Cards Get Stolen

I have never had it physically stolen in the more than 25 years I’ve used credit cards. However, I have had people make, or try to make, fraudulent charges at least four times. Each time, the credit card company caught the fraud, often before the purchase went through. However, the company then had to cancel my card and issue a new one, which was inconvenient. I could not use my credit card for a few days while waiting for the new one, and I had to change all my autopayments that used that particular credit card. Even worse, if I forgot to change all of them, some companies billed me a $20 missed payment charge since the credit card was no longer valid.

More recently, I had a scammer steal my credit card rewards points, but the credit card company refunded them for me when I noticed.

You May Overspend

If you are not disciplined and lack a budget system, you may overspend when using credit cards. When I was in my 20s, a friend said she thought of credit cards as “free money.” Unfortunately, many think this way and mindlessly spend more when using credit cards instead of cash.

How I Handle Credit Cards in the Budget

To avoid overspending, I use my credit card only for purchases I had already budgeted for. For instance, we use You Need a Budget (YNAB), and I have a separate category for dining out. So if I only have $20 in the dining out fund, and the family wants to go out to eat, we don’t at that time because there’s not enough money in the dining out category. So, by utilizing my budget in this way, I can avoid overspending on my credit card.

Likewise, this year we needed to buy a new dryer. When ours stopped working last week, I charged it with no qualms because I had enough money in my home maintenance fund to cover the purchase.

Final Thoughts

Choosing to pay cash or use a credit card is a personal decision. I prefer to pay with a credit card because it helps me monitor my spending easier than using cash. Because I combine my credit card usage with my budgeting, I rarely overspend on my credit card. In addition, we pay off our credit card each month (or earlier), so we do not have to pay interest fees. If you currently have a credit card balance, paying with cash until your credit card is paid off may make more sense.

Read More

Why You Need a Budget If You’re Broke

How YNAB Changed Our Finances

Make Improving Your Finances Your Part-Time Job

MelissaB
MelissaB

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York, where she loves the natural beauty of the area.

www.momsplans.com/

Filed Under: credit cards, General Finance Tagged With: cash, credit card, credit card rewards, paying cash

Why You Should Save Money for Retirement Early Regardless of How Much You Make

January 23, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

Your personal finance can have a big impact on your quality of life, as well as that of your family. This is why it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s in the best possible state and to take measures to improve it when you find that it isn’t. One of these measures is saving money for retirement. Outlined below are some reasons why you ought to save money for retirement early, no matter how much you make.

You May Need Urgent Health Care

Every one knows too well that health care can be extremely expensive. This is one of the reasons why it’s a good idea to start saving for retirement as early as possible. Note that slips and falls, according to the National Floor Safety Institute, are the main cause of compensation claims by workers. They’re also the main cause of occupational injury for people who are 55 years and older.

As you grow older, you may be at a higher risk of developing complications from a slip and fall accident. This and other types of health care may cost you a tidy sum, so it’s best to be prepared for such possibilities. Doing this can make your retirement years a bit more relaxed and enjoyable as you’ll be able to maintain good health.

You Might Lose Your Job When You Least Expect

It’s important for you to understand that, as times change, your job security may not hold as much. This makes it a good idea for you to save as much as you can while you still can, otherwise, it will be hard for you if you suddenly lose your job. It will be considerably harder for you to find ways to find a job and make money when you get older. You may be working as a mechanic and feel as though you’ll always have a steady stream of clients.

In this case, you may be aware of the fact that a driveshaft, according to Your Mechanic, doesn’t have a specific lifespan. All the same, it’s a good idea to change it every 75,000 miles. This and other bits of relevant information may change over time, and unless you make sure to keep your knowledge relevant to the current times, you may soon become obsolete. This is why you have to make sure that you have a backup in terms of savings.

Insurance May Not Provide Adequate Coverage

Another reason why you may be better off saving while you can is that insurance may not offer you adequate medical coverage when you need it. This is especially the case for things like oral health and optical care. You could become one of the approximately 50% to 75% of people who stand to benefit from orthodontic treatment.

You never know if you may require a procedure that falls just outside of your insurance coverage and have to pay for it out of pocket. The same goes for your car, your home, and other assets that you have insurance coverage for. Make sure that you can take care of all of these things even when insurance isn’t an option. A sudden disaster or other issues could leave you in need of immediate money. It’s always good if you can deal with financial issues as they come up without having to rely on third parties and distant sources.

These reasons should clearly show you the importance of personal finance and encourage you to save as much as you can. This can make life easier for you and your family in your twilight years.

Filed Under: General Finance

How to Recover Your Finances After a Legal Battle

December 20, 2022 By Erin H Leave a Comment

Legal battles, such as divorce, can have a significant and lasting impact on your finances. It can be overwhelming to try and regain control of your finances after such a stressful and emotional experience, but it’s important to take steps to rebuild your financial foundation. Here are some tips for recovering your finances after a legal battle.

Create a Budget

One of the first steps in recovering your finances is to create a budget. This will help you understand your current financial situation and identify areas where you can cut expenses. This is extremely important for families of divorce as neglect was the top reason why Kentucky children were removed from their homes between 2010 and 2015, making up 68.6 percent of removals. It’s important to prioritize you and your family’s basic needs, such as housing, food, and healthcare, and make sure you have enough money to cover these expenses. Consider creating a budget that includes all of your monthly expenses, as well as any debts or obligations you may have. This will help you see exactly where your money is going and allow you to make informed decisions about where to cut costs.

Find Ways to Increase Your Income

If your legal battle has resulted in a decrease in income, it’s important to find ways to increase your income. This could involve taking on additional work or starting a side business. You could also consider selling items you no longer need or use, such as clothes or furniture, to generate extra cash. Another option is to negotiate for a raise at your current job or look for a higher-paying position. Whatever route you choose, it’s important to be proactive in finding ways to increase your income.

Make Home Improvements

Home improvements can not only make your home more comfortable and enjoyable to live in, but they can also increase its value. According to Remodeling Magazine, replacing a garage door gives you a 93.8% ROI. This means that for every dollar you spend on a new garage door, you can expect to recoup nearly 94 cents in increased value. Other home improvements, such as installing vinyl windows, can also save you money on your monthly energy bills. If you decide to install vinyl windows, you can save up to 20% on your monthly energy utility bills. These types of improvements can help you save money in the long run, and can also be a good investment if you plan to sell your home in the future.

Get Professional Help

If you’re having trouble managing your finances, it may be helpful to seek the advice of a financial professional. A financial planner or advisor can help you create a plan to pay off debt and save for the future. They can also provide guidance on investment strategies and help you develop a plan to meet your financial goals. Working with a professional can give you the support and guidance you need to make informed financial decisions and get your finances back on track.

Consider Credit Counseling

If you’re struggling with high levels of debt, credit counseling can be a helpful resource. Credit counseling organizations can help you create a budget, negotiate with creditors to lower your interest rates, and develop a plan to pay off your debt. They can also provide education on financial topics, such as budgeting and saving, to help you improve your financial skills. Credit counseling can be a valuable tool in helping you get your finances back on track and gain control of your debt.

Overall, these were some of the ways you can help recover your finances after a legal battle. Remember these tips if you are ever facing legal trouble. Keeping your finances in order is important for anyone.

Filed Under: General Finance

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 33
  • Next Page »
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Improve Your Credit Score

Money Blogs

  • Celebrating Financial Freedom
  • Christian PF
  • Dual Income No Kids
  • Financial Panther
  • Gajizmo.com
  • Lazy Man and Money
  • Make Money Your Way
  • Money Talks News
  • My Personal Finance Journey
  • Personal Profitability
  • PF Blogs
  • Reach Financial Independence
  • So Over Debt
  • The Savvy Scot
  • Yes, I am Cheap

Categories

Disclaimer

Please note that Beating Broke has financial relationships with some of the merchants mentioned here. Beating Broke may be compensated if consumers choose to utilize the links located throughout the content on this site and generate sales for the said merchant.

Visit Our Advertisers

Need to change careers? Consider an Accounting Certificate Program from WTI.