Credit Cards: 3 Rules to Use Them WiselyUzorak

Rule 3: Make It Work for You

If we agree that a credit card is nothing more than a financial tool that must be used with wisdom, then it seems fitting that we should be using the best tool for the job.

In Ecclesiastes 10:10 we see the value of working with a sharp axe rather than a dull one. And while sharpening a credit card won’t do you much good, using the right one can make a world of difference.

Most people don’t understand how much of a gaping divide there is between an average rewards program and a good one. It’s not like two times better; it’s more like 10 to 50 times better. It can be the difference between getting $50 in rewards and getting $1,600 in rewards after using your card all year. From cash back to miles, the benefits with a good rewards card can be huge. The people who don’t think there is much of a difference just aren’t using the right cards. Additionally, the fraud protection most cards offer is a nice perk. Many companies also provide consumer purchase protection such as extended warranties and insurance. So, if you’re going to use a credit card, please don’t use it just because someone gave you a free T-shirt to sign up. Do your homework and find a good one.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options. There are a lot and they are always changing. If you want a head start, though, I did the research for you and opened up 34 credit cards to find the best ones (I am a nerd like that). So you can check out seedtime.com/cc to see what we currently use in our family and my most up-to-date recommendations.