Should You Use a Credit Card for Everyday Purchases?

Benefits of Using Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases

Using your credit card for daily spending rather than just occasional purchases often comes with several major benefits.

Keep in mind, though, you should use your credit card for purchases you already would have made otherwise, and never spend solely in pursuit of rewards or other benefits. Use your credit card as you would a debit card or cash, on purchases such as groceries, gasoline and utility bills.

Here are some of the perks of using credit cards for everyday purchases:

1. Build Your Credit

You may already use a debit card for everyday purchases since it pulls funds directly from money you have in your checking account, but this activity isn't recorded on your credit report. If you want to build your credit, one of the easiest ways to do so is to use a credit card regularly and responsibly pay off as much as you can every month.

Your credit card account activity, such as balance changes and repayments, appear on your credit report and help you establish a credit history lenders can look at to assess your creditworthiness. If you keep your balance reasonably low and make on-time payments every month, you'll contribute to the positive growth of your credit history and scores.

2. Strategically Earn Rewards

One of the best arguments for using credit cards for everyday purchases is the potential to earn rewards in the form of cash back or points you can redeem for things like travel or hotel stays. If you use a credit card for day-to-day spending rather than a debit card, then pay it off at the end of each month before interest kicks in, your rewards earning potential increases drastically.

Keep in mind that some rewards cards have permanent or rotating bonus categories that allow you to earn a higher rewards rate on certain types of purchases (such as travel or dining). If you use your card on these purchases, you can maximize your credit card rewards.

3. Take Advantage of Generous Consumer Protections

Credit cards offer several security features. Whereas with debit cards you may be fully liable for fraudulent purchases, credit cards offer limited or zero liability. That means you aren't on the hook for fraudulent purchases made without your knowledge or consent.

Many credit cards also offer extended warranties or purchase protection on items you buy with the card, in addition to price protection, which gives you a refund if the price of something you purchase with the card drops after you buy it.

4. Easily Track Your Spending

Credit cards send you monthly statements that show all of your monthly transactions, which can make it easier to track spending than if you use cash. Most also have online apps that make it simple to keep tabs on your spending. While debit cards have this functionality too, this feature of credit cards can help you make sure you only spend within your means.

5. Finance Large Purchases

Using a credit card to finance a big purchase can help you spread out payments. It's an especially solid idea when used to take advantage of credit card perks such as an introductory bonus, or when used in tandem with an promotional interest rate so that you don't accrue any interest on your balance while you pay it off.

How Using Your Credit Card Every Day Can Impact Credit Scores

Using your credit card for your everyday spending has plenty of benefits—but you should always carefully monitor your spending and avoid credit card mistakes to prevent dragging down your finances and your score.

Here's how using a credit card for everyday purchases can impact your credit score, positively or negatively:

Ways Credit Card Use Can Increase Your Credit Score

• Building up your payment history: A history of making credit payments on time is the largest factor that determines your credit score. Setting up autopay for at least the minimum payment can help you build your score, while also avoiding any late fees. Paying off your balance in full every month will prevent you from accruing credit card debt.
• Maintaining low credit utilization: Maintaining a low credit utilization rate is beneficial to your credit scores. To help keep your credit scores in tip-top shape, pay off your balance every month or keep your balance low to maintain a credit utilization ratio under 30% (the lower, the better). This means if you have a card with a $10,000 credit limit, try to keep your balance below $3,300.

Ways Credit Card Use Can Decrease Your Credit Score

• Making a late payment: Your payment history is the single most impactful factor in determining your credit score. Making a 30-day late payment can result in a negative mark on your credit report and a reduction in your credit score.
• Carrying a high balance: Any credit card you're issued will be assigned a credit limit. A credit card balance that's close to its limit increases your credit utilization ratio, which lenders and credit scorers see as a red flag.

Tips for Using Your Credit Card Responsibly

If you've only ever used credit cards occasionally, it can be an adjustment to switch to using it in place of a debit card for everyday purchases. Follow these tips to get the most out of your credit card and avoid any credit mistakes:

• Keep your balance low. Aim to keep your credit utilization ratio at or below 30%, and never max out your card.
• Don't buy things you can't afford. If you decide to use your credit card for everyday purchases, it's crucial you avoid overspending and make sure to only use it for things you would otherwise be comfortable buying with your debit card. Make sure you can pay off what you're putting on the card on time each month, especially if you want to avoid making interest payments.
• Make on-time payments. Late and missed payments harm your credit, whereas a history of on-time repayment helps build positive credit. If you're likely to forget to pay your bill, set up calendar reminders or automatic payments for at least the minimum payment amount.