Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
03/21/2016
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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With interest rate that reaches more than 400% per year, you need to know how to use credit cards to not turn it into villain
Walking through the halls of the malls, face promotion boards in the windows, view product offerings on the Internet. Well, often it is difficult to control the face of temptations, especially when we have the "magic" of the credit card, which allows us to make the purchase even when we do not have the money in hand. However, one must be very sparingly, as credit card rates are considered the highest in the world, reaching 439.5% per year, according to Central Bank (BC).
You can use the credit card as payment without compromising the finances
Of course you escape the high rate if you pay the bill on time. So for those who are controlled, the card appears as an ally, and a great credit to purchase instrument, it gives a period of 40 days on average for the effectuation of payment. In addition, especially in large purchases, it brings safety to the consumer to avoid the use of money.
However, the matter is urgent when we think it is rare to find nowadays someone who does not walk with at least one credit card in your wallet - and we had a record of the outstanding balance of the revolving credit card last year which totaled R $ 33.122 billion at the end of June, for example.
Although it requires awareness and care, it is indeed possible to use this form of payment without compromising the finances. Want to know how to use the card as an ally and not a villain? So stay tuned the tips of the experts consulted by iG.
1. Be honest with yourself
It's no use, you must be sincere in solving having or not having a credit card - and more than that, how many of them will have. Are you disciplined? Receives salary in a portion or two? One or two cards can suit you perfectly. Or you are consumerist, too lazy to follow the statement of expenditure? Well, in this case it is best to think (very good!) To have a card - and if it is not better to leave it home to use it only when really necessary.
"The ideal is to have one or two at most. I also suggest that the person go guarding lefties card, noting all to know how much should, in all, not to lose, "said financial planner CFP certified, Leticia Camargo.
2. Looking to the limit
This is one of the most important tips for any consumer: keep an eye on card limit - or cards! According to Leticia, this should be around 30 percent of their income. "So if you have two cards, the sum of the two limits should be thirty percent, and not every one," points Leticia.
3. Do not delay payment - and avoid the minimum value
According to the lawyer specializing in consumer rights and financial advisor, Dori Boucault, the ideal is to have a card with date of next due date of salary payment as well, you can pay the bill so falling wages, avoiding delays. After all, pay full and on time bill is the best of all worlds, right?
But in case of delay, there are two most common outputs: pay the minimum amount (and enter the so-called revolving credit) or to divide the bill.
To use the so-called revolving credit at maturity of the bill, the consumer must make payment of any amount between the minimum and the total. The rest is automatically financed and released the following month, with interest. However, according to our experts, this is the least preferred option. The best is to make the installment payment of the invoice debt - which have lower interest rates, generally in relation to the payment of the minimum value.
But even with the parcels, care is needed. The lawyer advises to observe if the value does not change according to the month. "Try to make an installment with situations likely to be met, lengthening the payment with a smaller portion, but look well if that interest is not abusive," says Boucault.
If this happens, it will not be worth using installments, still possible to use smaller credit lines. "Look for a line of credit with lower interest rates, such as payroll loans, for example. It usually has more affordable interest and free the consumer to pay the high card, "explains Leticia.
4. Use cash and debt for control
A mistake made by most credit card users is to become totally "dependent" of it, or use it for any kind of purchase. This is not mentioned because you can lose control, especially to forget those small purchases.
"Of course, if the person is well-disciplined and able to track all your expenses, it is indifferent to use cash or credit card. But in general, people do not have control size, so I suggest you do not use the card for purchases from day to day, preferring cash or debit card. In this way, you can see better how much you have money in the bank. Now the credit card, you can be surprised to see the bill, "said Leticia Camargo.
5. Purchases abroad, and now?
Will travel and do not know which is best time to go shopping? According to financial planner Leticia Camargo, when you can pay in cash, you must do so, since, currently, the purchase of paper money are charged 0.38% IOF since the card rate is 6, 38%, ie much higher.
"See, using credit card abroad can bring two major problems: the first is you spend a lot, arrive in Brazil and are unable to pay. Another thing is that you will pay the bill only the following month and, therefore, depend on the future exchange of the currency of that country. How much will the dollar in another month, for example? Just to illustrate: last year we had change of R $ 2.70 to R $ 4. So if planned spending $ 500, ended up spending R $ 1,000, "said Leticia.
6. Miles are benefits, not causes
Have you heard the talk that "will buy with credit card just to earn miles?". Yeah, very calm at this time! Not to fall into a trap, the user should see the miles as a benefit - and not as a cause of purchase. Besides that,
Dori Boucault points out that if you know how to use them, it may be worth, but it must be attentive to details such as the due date, method of use and date of possibility trip etc. After all, to use the points, you must have patience to do the conversion of miles, because the service can be bureaucratic and time consuming.
"Do not spend thinking about the miles, they are uncertain. and do the math to see if it is not being deceived with the promise of advantages, "he concludes.
Source: IG
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.