Tips for using a credit card

Credit cards can be very dangerous if you’re not careful—but when used wisely, they can also be one of the best tools for building credit and earning rewards.

Here’s everything I’ve learned about how to choose and use credit cards without falling into the debt trap.

Rule #1: Always Pay It Off—Every Month

This is the golden rule.
Never use a credit card to buy something you can’t afford. If it’s not in your budget with cash, it shouldn’t be on your card either.

Why? Because the minute you carry a balance, you start paying interest, and that’s where people get in trouble. If you pay your balance in full every month, you’ll never pay interest—and you’ll get all the perks (like cash back) without any added costs. Win-win!

Okay so how do you pick a credit card?

Choosing the Right Credit Card

When picking a credit card, here are the top things to look for:

✅ $0 Annual Fee

This is non-negotiable in my opinion. Most people don’t need a credit card with an annual fee—there are so many great no-fee options. You shouldn’t have to pay to use a credit card that makes the company money anyway!

🎁 Reward Type

What kind of benefits does the card offer? Common options include:

Cash back
Airline miles
Store points

Now let’s talk about how to choose based on your lifestyle.

Match Rewards to How You Spend

Here’s how we do it:

My husband has a Cabela’s/Bass Pro card because he shops there regularly. He earns store credit and uses it to buy fishing gear. It’s not ideal for everyday purchases, but for his hobby, it works!
We don’t use airline mile cards because we rarely fly. If you don’t fly often, don’t let those miles go to waste.

Personally, I prefer cash back cards—and here’s why:

Why I Love Cash Back Cards

Cash back is flexible. It’s actual money you can use anywhere, not just at one store or airline. I have two main cards:

1% base + rotating bonus categories – Each quarter, I can select where to earn 2–3% back (like groceries, dining, or bills). For example, I put our internet bill on this card and choose “utilities” each quarter to maximize the return.

1.5% cash back on all purchases – Simple, no categories to track.

Real-Life Results: My Christmas Trick

I use my credit cards for about 98% of our purchases—and I’ve earned over $1,000 in cash back in just the last 7 months!

Here’s my trick:
I save all that cash back until November and use it for Christmas shopping. It makes gifting so much easier on our budget—and we never pay a cent in interest.

New to Credit Cards? Start Slow

If you’re new to credit cards, I recommend starting with just one. Use it only for gas—something you already need to buy.

Then:

Wait for the charge to post.
Pay it off immediately.
Repeat.

This builds strong habits and keeps your balance at zero. Once you’re comfortable, you can expand to other regular purchases.

Recap:

Always pay off your card each month—no exceptions!
Never get a card with an annual fee.
Pick a rewards system that fits your lifestyle.
Start small and build smart habits.

Credit cards can work for you—but only if you’re intentional about how you use them!

Got questions or tips of your own? Drop them below—I’d love to hear how you make credit cards work for you!