<body><div><p>Americans are drowning in credit card debt. Credit card balances in the U.S. stood at $1.12 trillion in the first quarter of the year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. </p><p>Credit cards offer many benefits, such as helping you build a solid credit score, offering fraud protection, and giving you perks such as cash back points. But if you don’t use these cards well, you might spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year on interest and fees. </p><p>Here is how to avoid paying more than what you owe on credit cards so you can crush your debt and build your savings. </p><p><b>If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources</b></p><p>Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.</p><p><b>How to become a member today:</b></p><ul><li>Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”</li><li>Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions</li><li>Start enjoying your discounts and perks!</li></ul><p><b>Important:</b> Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it <b>just $12 per year</b> with auto-renewal. </p><p>SPONSORED</p><h2>Pay your balance in full each month</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1FROBR_0w7grXzp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1FROBR_0w7grXzp00" width="1200" height="628" ></figure><p>A surefire way to never pay more than what you owe is to pay off the entire balance on your statement each month. </p><p>When you do this, you will not owe any interest and can avoid unnecessary costs and start building your net worth. Paying off all your debt each month may also help your credit score. </p><p>Own a car? Here's 7 warning signs you're paying too much for car insurance.</p><h2>Ask your lender for a better due date</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2u9NXp_0w7grXzp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2u9NXp_0w7grXzp00" width="1199" height="628" ></figure><p>Call your credit card issuer and ask the representative to adjust your due date. Swapping the day your bill is due might help align the date with your payday, which can increase the odds that you will pay on time and in full. </p><p>However, if your lender allows you to change the due date, don’t expect that you can keep changing the date throughout the year. Your lender might limit how often you can make such a change. </p><h2>Watch out for the end of promotional offers</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4JFPKR_0w7grXzp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4JFPKR_0w7grXzp00" width="1200" height="628" ></figure><p>Credit card promotional offers can be a great way to rack up rewards points or take advantage of a low interest rate when you make a big purchase. </p><p>Make sure to read the fine print, however. At the end of the promotional period, your interest rate could skyrocket. Put a reminder in your calendar to pay off the balance before the promotion ends. </p><h2>Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt</h2><p>Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.</p><p>National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1</p><p><b>How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt:</b></p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2iIc9J_0w7grXzp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2iIc9J_0w7grXzp00" width="2990" height="668" ></figure><p>. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.</p><p>SPONSORED</p><h2>Make a balance transfer to a zero-percent credit card</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0EIugq_0w7grXzp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0EIugq_0w7grXzp00" width="1200" height="628" ></figure><p>If you carry a large credit card balance from month to month, consider a balance transfer to a card that is offering a zero-percent promotional offer. </p><p>Take advantage of the promotional period to pay off the balance without accruing interest. It’s important to take steps to actually pay off all your debt on the card during this time. Once the promotional period ends, your interest rate likely will jump. </p><h2>Don’t use cash advances</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=20lAXw_0w7grXzp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20lAXw_0w7grXzp00" width="1200" height="628" ></figure><p>Cash advances often come with hefty fees. Typically, the cash-advance fee starts at 5% or $10, whichever is more, according to Experian. But your lender might charge more. </p><p>On top of that, the annual percentage rate charged for cash-advance transactions is often higher than what you would pay for regular purchases. </p><p>Your lender also might start charging interest immediately. So, even if you pay off the advance in full by the statement due date, you might have accrued some interest that you will need to pay. </p></div></body>

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8 Clever Credit Card Hacks to Avoid Paying Additional Costs

Americans are drowning in credit card debt. Credit card balances in the U.S. stood at $1.12 trillion in the first quarter of the year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Credit cards offer many benefits, such as helping you build a solid credit score, offering fraud protection,...