Know When Credit Cards Are Just About To Make Your Life Hell

Let us make one thing clear: credit cards are not from hell. We are pretty sure that those who created these cards meant well by providing us with the means to protect our cash. If you lose your cash, the chances of you seeing it again is next to impossible. But if you lose your card, you can simply call your credit card company and have it cut off so the person who found (or stole?) it will not get the chance to use it. There are also the reward points and its capability to increase your credit score.

These are only a few of the things that credit cards will do for you. However, we cannot erase the current statistics of it being one of the top three debts that is crippling the average American household. But you need to be clear on what caused it in the first place - which, unfortunately, puts the blame on yourself.

Our debt is a result of several wrong financial decisions. For a lot of us, we fail to recognize the signs that our credit cards are leading us to ruin. To help you avoid this, here are some of the telltale signs that your credit card is about to make your life a living hell.

First is your use of credit cards. Are you using it to purchase the most basic needs of your family? If so, then your debt is in danger of growing. Credit cards should only be used for emergencies. If you want to use it for the most basic purchase, you should have the cash in your account so you can pay off what you owe during the grace period of the billing cycle.

Another sign that indicates your card debt is about to be unmanageable is when you can barely pay the minimum on your card bill. This is an indication that your debt has grown to a sizable amount. Sticking to the minimum payment will keep you in debt for a very long time. If you are working longer hours just to have enough to pay your cards or you are considering a cash advance just to pay off the incoming bill, then you need to reassess your finances.

If you have multiple cards, you may want check all of their credit limit. If you are about to reach all of them, then you are in big trouble. You need to stop using them and concentrate on paying them off one by one. If you are purchasing more than you can pay for the minimum every month, then you are setting up your card debt to grow exponentially.

Lastly, a clear sign that your card is going to start making your life undesirable is when collectors begin calling you. That means you have been late on one or more card payment. If that is the case, you should start to think about how you will pay it off.

If you don’t have these signs yet, that does not mean you should continue using your card for unnecessary purchases. Do not create a credit card problem for yourself because it is very difficult to get out of this type of debt. The high interest rate and the penalties just keep on mounting.

Fortunately for you, there are various ways to eliminate credit card debt. Look for the right debt relief option that is perfect for your debt and your financial capabilities.