According to certain financial gurus, people should never buy anything with a credit card and should only make purchases with cash.
Although the theory behind this advise has some merit, people who handle credit wisely reap a slew of rewards. In fact, failing to utilise a credit card for certain types of purchases can be a mistake, as you’ll be foregoing certain forms of protection and perks.
Although the disclaimer that you must use your credit responsibly applies at all times, here is a list of purchases that you should always consider using a credit card for.
Appliances and Electronics
You should always buy appliances and electronics on credit, depending on the type of card you have.
Many credit cards provide extended warranties on purchases of gadgets and appliances, in addition to whatever points you may earn.
If you buy a dishwasher with a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee, for example, your credit card company may extend the warranty to two years.
Some credit cards may provide purchase protection against damage and theft. Your card provider will fix or pay you for your purchase if it is destroyed or stolen within a specified time period, usually 90 to 120 days.
Bonus Sections
Credit card providers compete fiercely for clients’ business, which has benefited them much.
Most reward cards now provide additional multipliers in certain categories, such as three times points for travel and dining or two times points for shopping.
The trick to getting the most out of these bonus points is to choose a card that offers benefits for things you already buy. If you spend a lot of money on groceries and gas, for example, you should put that money toward a card that gives you bonus points in those categories.
PenFed sweetens the bargain even more by offering 15,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days, as well as a 12-month 0% balance transfer APR. From now until September 30, 2022, on all transfers. The outstanding balance and any future balance transfers will have an APR of 17.99 percent after that. Each balance transfer is subject to a 3-percentage-point fee. Credit approval is required for this transaction. If you use this balance transfer, you will be charged interest on any purchases made with your credit card immediately until you pay your whole account amount, including balance transfers, in full by the payment due date each month.
Flights
Flights are one of the most obvious purchases that can be made with a credit card. To begin, many reward credit cards provide additional bonus points for flight purchases.
Most travel-oriented credit cards, on the other hand, provide numerous additional benefits for flight purchases. Some cards include free travel delay or cancellation insurance, and branded cards frequently include free baggage for flights purchased using the card.
Many travel cards also include lost luggage insurance, which reimburses you for your bags and their contents if they are lost or stolen. Some cards also provide free admission to airport lounges once you’ve started your journey.
Automobile Rentals
Some travel-oriented credit cards include automobile rental insurance, allowing you to avoid the costly coverage offered by car rental businesses.
In some circumstances, this insurance serves as main coverage, which means you won’t need to contact your own auto insurance carrier.
Some cards also provide free enrollment and premium status in various automobile rental loyalty programmes, which can provide savings, free upgrades, and other benefits.
Using a credit card to rent a car can also make it simple to check out when you return the car, as you can frequently simply leave the car, walk away, and receive an email receipt.
You Might Return Your Purchases
Nobody can say with certainty whether or not they will return something after purchasing it.
Buying an item with a credit card, on the other hand, is an excellent idea if you think you’ll need to return it at some point. The main reason for this is because retailers are sometimes hesitant to honour their return policies.
If a retailer refuses to accept a return and you want to make a complaint with your credit card provider, you can typically do so. If the credit card issuer is unable to persuade the retailer to comply, they will usually undertake an investigation and reimburse your purchase amount.
Obviously, this does not apply to cases of fraud or abuse, but for the vast majority of lawful transactions, your credit card provider will back you up.
You Don’t Trust Those Vendors
You may wish to purchase a product but have concerns about the dealer. This usually occurs with an internet retailer, but it might also occur with a street seller using a portable credit card terminal.
In any case, it’s critical to use a credit card rather than cash or other forms of payment for a purchase like this. You can file a complaint with your credit card company to investigate and seek a refund if the seller delivers a substandard goods or vanishes from the face of the Earth after your transaction.
You will never see that money again if you pay with cash. A credit card can also safeguard you from any fraudulent purchases made with your card by an unscrupulous vendor.
Bills for Mobile Phones
If you pay your telephone bill with certain credit cards, you’ll get phone theft and damage insurance.
If your phone is damaged or stolen, you can file a claim with your credit card company and receive a refund of up to $600.
This coverage usually only lasts as long as you keep paying your monthly charge with your credit card. Even if you never file a claim, this benefit can save you money because phone carriers can charge as much as $15 per month for the same sort of coverage.
Some carriers may even charge a deductible or service charge in addition to the monthly insurance cost.
Tickets for a concert or an event
It makes sense to use a credit card to purchase concert or event tickets just for the dispute resolution services given by credit card issuers.
Additionally, using the appropriate credit card can provide you with additional ticket perks. Some credit cards get you priority access to event tickets, allowing you to purchase seats ahead of the general public.
This might be a huge help if you’re looking for the best seats for a popular performance. Additional improved event experiences, such as VIP parking or seating, as well as access to meet-and-greets or pre-/post-event parties, are sometimes offered by credit card issuers.
Using a credit card for online transactions might help you avoid fraud while also providing you with additional benefits.
If you shop through one of the credit card companies’ online portals, you can get everything from discounts to cash back.
If you buy a Samsung product through a shopping portal, for example, you could be able to get 4% cash back or 2% back at Macy’s.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of stores are available through most shopping portals. Consumers pay no extra fees to use these shopping portals, so if you’re going to buy anything anyhow, you might as well earn some money back.
Purchases from other countries
If you’re travelling internationally, don’t forget to bring your credit card. Credit cards provide better conversion rates than overseas merchants or money changers, allowing you to receive more bang for your buck.
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Because some overseas retailers may not take U.S. debit cards or cash, using a credit card is often the more convenient option. Although some credit cards charge 3% or more for overseas transactions, there are many of cards that don’t.
Before you travel, double-check that your credit card belongs in the latter category.
