Rack up rewards or simply give yourself more time to pay a balance when you make a large purchase with a credit card.
If you are considering buying furniture, appliances, or jewelry you have probably looked at the in-store financing options. While these are convenient, it is possible that you can get a better deal by using a major credit card to make your purchase.
Using credit cards for large purchases
If you’re planning to make a purchase that costs more than a month’s salary, a few of the advantages of using a credit card include the ability to bank a large number of reward points. But – you’ll want to stick to some rules of thumb, which we’ll outline in this guide.
What exactly is considered to be a large purchase?
A large credit card purchase isn’t how much the dollar amount adds up to, it is actually your debt to credit limit ratio. If your credit card limit is $5,000 and you’ve charged $4,000, you’ve used 80% of your available line. Swiping for anything over 50% of your credit limit is considered a big purchase, some people even argue that it is 20%.
Everyone uses credit cards differently
Each person has different use for a credit card — some swipe for emergencies only and others use it quite often. No matter how you use a credit card, having a plan to pay off the balance when it is due should be a common denominator for all cardholders.
Far too often, consumers just swipe their cards without thinking about how they will pay off the balance. So, when using a credit card to pay for an expensive item, consider the benefits and the potential risks of doing so.
Using my credit card responsibly
Your credit card should only be used in a way that is financially responsible. If you know that you will not be able to consistently pay off your bill each month then switching to a cash system or exploring low interest loans is probably better for you. Keep those cards for big expenses only and work diligently to pay off the balance as quickly as possible.
There are some cards out there that come with an introductory low interest rate. When the rate is low or nonexistent, you can use it to your advantage to buy something expensive and avoid excessive cost from interest fees.
Using my credit card to earn points
Your card may come with a great rewards program – for instance, 2 miles for every dollar spent such as with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus Elite World Mastercard. Making a large purchase with a card with double miles will get you – well, double miles!
For cards with cash back offers, a $5,000 purchase with 1% cash back would be a $50 bonus.
Some credit cards also offer purchase protection when you use the card to buy your personal items. This means that you have additional coverage if there is any problem with the item within a set timeframe of the purchase.
Back to topIn-store loans have become more favorable for larger purchases because it offers the customer a line of credit directly with the store and can have either little or no interest.
Things to consider when using a credit card
There are a number of different reasons to use a specific card for a specific purpose. Some simply have better interest rates than others and will ultimately end up costing you less if you can pay your balance on time. Also, pay attention to cards with no annual fees. If you’re not a chronic credit card user, why would you want to pay to use one in the first place?
Speaking of spending, your credit limit is very important to take note of, as this is the varying factor that will determine the amount of money you’re able to use.
Wake up! Don’t sleep on cards that offer enticing perks like reward points and travel insurance, use them to your advantage. Defineitly shop around and carefully eyeball the terms and conditions for any card you are considering, as there could be hidden fees in the contract.
How does the interest free period work?
Most credit cards come with interest free periods, which means when you make a purchase, it does not start accruing interest until your next statement period. You get the whole month to pay off the balance, but when the balance is due, it will accrue interest if you can’t pay in full. Just don’t make the mistake of forgetting to pay off your bill in full before the interest free period is up, no matter how tempted you might be to only make the minimum monthly payment.
Credit limit
A credit card has a spending limit on it. Someone who has a solid credit history and has responsibly used credit cards for quite some time will likely have a high credit limit. If you’re someone who is a first-time credit card user or someone who has one but is hesitant to swipe, it is rare that you’ll have a high credit limit. The limit is based off of your creditworthiness and it takes time to build.
Extending my credit limit
Credit limits can be extended for larger purchases, but this is something that is at the discretion or the creditor. Multiple factors are taken into consideration when deciding if you can take on a higher credit limit such as your repayment history, your most current income, job status and how long you have been a valued card member
Protection for shoppers
Even though it is common for stores to sell their items with a warranty for a limited period of time, with the use of your credit card, you’ll be able to extend this period even more. Extended warranties are offered by most of the major card lenders and are typically a complimentary service that will reimburse you if something organically backfires with your purchase — you obviously can’t ruin your purchase with abnormal wear and tear and ask for your money back!
Be sure sure to file your receipts and warranties for larger purchases to save yourself time in the event that you’d have to make claim. Not every purchase will be covered by the warranty set in place by the credit card company, so read the fine print and figure out if you’re better off paying a little extra for the store warranty.
Switching to another credit card with better features
Just because a card has treated you well in the past, you should still keep an eye out for a card that has promotions or perks that could be financially beneficial for you. Big purchases could lead to big rewards, cash back or frequent flyer miles. You could even find a card with lower fees or transfer your balance to a card with a better interest rate. Saving money? Sign me up!
As you can see there are several innovative ways that a credit card may be used to purchase your expensive items. If you’re creative enough, you can make a large purchase and never pay a cent in interest.
Large purchases and my credit score
Your credit score is based on a number of factors, one being your debt to limit ratio or how high your balance is in relation to your credit limit. If you plan to make a large purchase with your card, be careful as this will raise your debt to limit ratio and possibly have a negative effect on your score. All the more reason to pay off the balance in full by the due date.
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Tips for using my credit card for large purchases
Promotional periods: Companies want your business, so they are willing to make all kinds of offers in order to secure you as their loyal customer. Most cards have interest free periods that allow you to buy an item and pay off the card before you attract additional interest.
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Extended warranties, insurance and special discounts. The extended warranty gives you an extension on the manufacturers warranty, protecting your initial investment. There are other kinds of purchase insurance that protect your item from loss, theft or damage. These protections make it a no-brainer to use your card for a valuable purchase.
Find low interest offers. Some cards offer a zero percent introductory interest rate that lets you finance your purchases for free. If you are going this route, make sure you can pay off all or most of the purchase before the low rate expires so you can maximize savings.
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Look into a balance transfer. If didn’t have time to get a low rate card before you made your purchase you can still take advantage of low rates by doing a balance transfer. This is when you move the debt from one card to a new card for a lower interest rate.
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