Credit card debt is expensive, and since you can use your card to make purchases even when you have a balance, it can accumulate quickly. U.S. households with revolving credit card debt pay an average of just over $1,000 in interest annually, according to a 2021 NerdWallet study. However, when faced with an unforeseen expense or the need to pay the bills while unemployed, you may occasionally need to take on debt. When that occurs, taking action to lower your interest costs can help you save money.
Additionally, your credit card company gives you the option of spreading out the payment of your credit card balance. However, you will typically have to pay interest in the form of a finance charge if you keep a balance on your credit card from month to month. Avoiding credit card interest is necessary if you want to keep your credit card free or at least reduce the cost of having one. Nevertheless, avoiding credit card interest altogether is the best way to save money on it.
When Is Interest Charged?
If you don’t pay off the balance on your credit card in full each month, interest adds to the balance. Interest charges typically waive if cardholders pay their entire statement balance by the due date. When you have a balance, interest builds up every day. The daily interest rate calculated by multiplying the annual percentage rate (APR) by the 365 days in a year.
The interest is then computed based on your average daily balance at the end of each day. The interest was charged yesterday and then becomes a part of the balance on which interest charges today because this happens continuously throughout the billing cycle. At the end of the month, your lender will add up all of your daily interest charges and charge the total to your card as a finance charge.
What’s Wrong With Paying Interest?
You end up paying more for your purchases than you originally borrowed when you pay interest on a credit card balance. The total amount of interest you will pay will depend on your interest rate and how long it takes you to pay off your balance. If you don’t pay off your credit card balance each month, a credit card with a 15% APR will end up costing you more because some credit cards charge interest daily.
For some, that equates to a month’s supply of diapers, a tank of gas, a month’s worth of cellular service, a college textbook, or a week’s worth of lunch money. Because interest is spread out over time and included in your credit card payment, you may not be aware of how much you spend on it, but that doesn’t make it any less important.
Furthermore, it is a simple mathematical fact that if you pay less interest, you will have more money available for you to spend on essential expenses.
How to Reduce Credit Card Interest?
There are several methods you can employ to lessen the impact of credit card interest. Here are a few ways:
Every month, pay off your credit card balance in full
You won’t accrue interest on your credit card debt if you pay all your bills in full each month because you won’t have a balance to carry over to the following month. After all, using a credit card can feel less tangible than parting with actual cash. It can be simple to spend more than you can afford to pay back at once and also check your credit card activity a few times a month to see if you’re approaching your spending limit and can cut back.
Benefit from Your Grace Period
Another way to avoid paying interest on a credit card is to pay it off with complete payment each month. Recall the grace period from the previous section. The period between the conclusion of your billing cycle and the due date for payment is the grace period. No interest assessment on fresh purchases.
How to avoid interest on your credit card
Use a credit card with a balance transfer promotion or 0% interest
If you want to make significant progress toward paying off a credit card balance, a balance transfer credit card or a credit card with a temporary 0% APR offer may be an alluring choice. Besides that, keep in mind that these offers frequently require good credit, which is defined as a score of 670 or higher. Calculate how much you’d need to pay off each month to pay off your balance if this is the strategy you’re interested in.
Limit your spending
Even though it may seem obvious, make sure your monthly spending doesn’t exceed your income to put yourself in a position where you can pay off your credit card balances each month. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but once you start accruing credit card interest, it may be even more difficult to pay off the entire balance. Make sure to stay on track with your spending each month, you might think about creating a budget and making a commitment to stick to it.
Be wise when making large purchases
There are alternatives to taking on credit card debt if you intend to make an expensive purchase soon that you’ll need to pay off over a long period. However, you should keep your budget in mind when deciding how to finance a significant expense because you might be charged late fees or accrue interest on any outstanding debt at the end of a promotion.
The Final Word
Additionally, you can now see several options available for you. If you were wondering how to avoid paying interest on a credit card. It includes everything from paying off your balance in full each month to utilizing a 0% APR promotion. Finding a credit card with a reasonable APR is also beneficial in case you ever need to carry a balance.
However, the terms of your credit card are negotiable, so by requesting a lower interest rate, you might be able to do so. Even if you are unable to avoid interest, there are ways to minimize the amount of interest you pay on a balance that has accumulated.
