How To Use a Credit Card Like a Pro This Holiday Season

Many Americans rack up credit card debt over the holidays, with the average debt exceeding $1,000, according to a 2019 survey by MagnifyMoney. If you use your credit cards wisely this season, however, you could actually save money.

GOBankingRates asked shopping experts to share their favorite credit card hacks. From shopping for gifts to booking travel, there are many ways your credit cards can help you make the most of your money.

Now could be a great time to take advantage of a sign-up bonus, especially if it’s a card that requires you to spend a minimum amount in the first three months of opening. Compare offers to find the best credit card bonus with a minimum spend that you can realistically hit.

If you open a new card, look for one that offers a 0% annual percentage rate on purchases as an introductory offer. You should be able to pay off your balance in full every month — even during holiday shopping season — but this will keep you from getting hit with high interest rates on any leftover balances in case you can’t.

Using a store credit card can be one of the best ways to save money when holiday shopping.

“If you purchase a lot of items from a specific store, then it may be a good idea to open up a credit card with them,” said Jessica Myers, co-owner of the blog Now That’s Thrifty. “Frequent shoppers tend to earn a lot of points that can get them some great benefits like discounts and money towards your next purchase.”

When you shop with a cash-back credit card, you automatically get money back with every purchase. Some cash-back cards offer higher cash-back percentages based on the purchase category, so keep that in mind when deciding which cash-back card to use for your holiday shopping purchases.

Shopping with a rewards credit card can help you save big on future purchases.

“The best way to take advantage of credit cards over the holidays is to maximize reward points,” said Ben Packard, founder of Thrifty Points. “The holidays are an expensive time of year, and we’re all spending money left and right. Using a rewards card to manage your holiday spending is like getting an extra present under the tree.”

Alternatively, you can use your credit card points to shop Amazon directly. Many credit cards allow you to link your points with the online retailer.

Holiday travel is notoriously expensive, so now could be a good time to cash in on any airline credit card fare discounts you might have.

It’s frustrating to buy someone a pricey gift only to see the price drop dramatically after Christmas. Although it’s become increasingly rare, some cards offer price protection, which can end up saving you a ton — especially on your holiday purchases, as prices do tend to drop after Dec. 25.

Many cards come with purchase protection, which means you’ll be reimbursed if a product gets damaged or stolen during a given period of time. Consider using a card with this protection on gifts you buy online — it can protect you in case your items get damaged during transit or stolen from your front door.

Purchase big-ticket items with a card that offers extended warranty protection. The longer your warranty, the more time you have to submit a claim if your product breaks or becomes faulty.

One of the shopping protection perks offered by some cards is a satisfaction guarantee. With this protection, if you — or the picky person you bought the gift for — decide you aren’t satisfied with a product and the store allow you to return it, you may be able to file a claim to get a refund from your bank instead.

Many credit cards have zero-liability policies that protect cardholders from fraudulent purchases. If someone steals your card number and makes authorized purchases, you can dispute the charge and get your money back.

The higher the balance you rack up, the higher your credit utilization ratio — and that has a big impact on your credit score. Keep in mind that a lower credit score means you can get hit with higher interest rates when taking out a loan, so putting too much on your card can end up costing you in the long run.

Using credit cards will only save you money if you don’t get slammed paying off high-interest debt.

“Make sure you are not charging more than you can afford,” said Myers. “Credit cards only save you money if you pay your whole credit card statement before you incur interest on it.”

If you do end up charging more than you can pay back right away, come up with a plan to pay down your credit card balance as soon as possible. This can include cutting back on expenses and funneling that extra money to your credit card bill, or taking on a side job to earn extra cash to pay off your debt.

If you’re stuck paying off high-interest credit card debt over a long time period, it effectively cancels out your savings and rewards. Keep this in mind to help you stay focused and stick to your holiday budget.

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