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How To Stop Using Your Credit Cards

Posted February 3rd, 2010 and last modified June 22nd, 2011

HSBC Credit Card

Best No Annual Fee Card

If you have the discipline of paying off your credit card balance in full on time each month then the HSBC Credit Card is perfect for you. It features a $0 annual fee for the life of the card so it will cost you nothing to use this card provided you stick to your payments on time. You also have 55 days interest free.

  • $0 annual fee
  • 17.99% p.a. on purchases
  • 0% p.a. for 6 months with 2% handling fee on balance transfers
  • Cash Advance Rate of 21.99% p.a.
  • 55 days interest free
  • Minimum Income Requirement of $20,000 p.a.
  • Minimum income requirement of $20,000 p.a

If you want to know how to stop using your credit card, then take a look at this article. It contains some great pointers on credit card usage and how to stop the spending.

It can be quite difficult to switch spending habits, and if you want to make a change and start using cash, then you need to learn how to stop using your credit card. It can be difficult at first, but by using the suggestions below, you will be on your way to a better way of spending.

How to stop using your credit card:

Sometimes it can be easier to make the decision to stop using your credit cards than to actually do it. Most people have grown accustomed to the spending habits of plastic and find it very difficult to start using cash and debit cards once again. If you are also wondering how to stop using your credit card, then here are some useful tips that you can use to kick the habit.

  1. Stop receiving new offers. Any new offers for credit cards can be very tempting, and there is really no point in disposing of your existing cards if you can’t stop yourself from getting new ones. You can send a letter to any of the major credit bureaus to let them know that you do not want to receive any more unsolicited offers in the post. You will have to provide your personal information in order to make sure this gets done.
  2. Destroy your cards. No matter how strong you think you are, the temptation of having a credit card nearby can be quite overpowering. It is easy to justify emergencies and use the card for them only, but when emergencies become simplified such as, ” I need a new dress for a party”, then you can see how the problems begin. You need to take out a big pair of scissors and start cutting your credit cards in half so that the temptation is totally removed. This is how to stop using your credit card for good.
  3. Use the Internet to pay your bills. Sometimes things will seem more inconvenient when you suddenly stop using your credit cards. Set up an online account that you can use to pay your bills so that the convenience is still there and you don’t feel like you need to revert back to your credit cards.
  4. Makeup a monthly budget. It is time to devise a spending plan because you are probably used to using plastic instead of money, and this can all seem unreal. Your budget should include all of your fixed expenses such as loans, childcare and rent or mortgage, and it should also include allocations that are more discretionary such as entertainment, transportation and groceries. Once you have this accomplished you need to subtract your expenses from your income to see what kind of figure you’re left with. A negative figure indicates that you will have to cut back on some of your spending. When you learn how to stop using your credit card, you will see that making a budget is one of the most important things you can do.
  5. Start thinking ahead. You won’t be able to spend like you used to when you had those credit cards, and you will have to do more planning. This will lead to better and more responsible financial decisions being made, so it is really a good thing.

These points made above show you how to stop using your credit card, but it is up to you to implement them. You really do not have to rely on a piece of plastic any longer.

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