When it comes to shopping this holiday season, many people are probably thinking of sticking with cash. With concerns about the economy prompting many to cut back on spending and avoid adding to their debt, it is little surprise that credit cards are out of favor right now. However, credit cards aren’t all evil. There are some advantages to using credit cards for your holiday shopping. Here are some things to consider before you discount your plastic money.

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Rewards

The first thing that comes to mind when using credit cards strategically is rewards. Using your rewards card for holiday shopping can help you earn cash back, points for merchandise, travel, and even for your child’s college education. Carefully consider which rewards card will be of most use to you right now, and focus on that card to rack up the freebies — to get started, check out our list of reward credit cards. Of course, in order to retain the advantage, you will need a plan for paying back the card’s balance as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the interest charges will destroy the value of your rewards.

Price Protection

If you have some sort of elite membership card, check the policies to see whether you have price protection on the items that you purchase with your credit card. In some cases, you have price protection for 60 days. This way, if you buy something during the holidays, and then the price is slashed in post-holiday sales, you might be able to get a refund for the difference. Most cards that offers this have a limit on the size of the refund, though, and there might be exclusions with regard to online purchases or whether or not the merchant is an “authorized” dealer. You’d be surprised with some of the protections you can get from credit cards.

Return Policies

Check your credit card policies for “return protection.” Not all credit cards offer this, but American Express cards, and some Visa credit cards, are well-known for the policy that allows you to return items for up to 90 days after purchase. As long as you have the item in new condition, you might be able to return it to your credit card issuer, even though it exceeds the return period offered by the retailer. Find out what you will need (original receipt, etc.) and whether there is a limit on the value of the item. If you are shopping early, or if you find you got a duplicate gift, this policy on credit card purchases can help you return an item that might otherwise be un-returnable. It is also worth noting that many cards offer extended warranty protection.

Make a Plan

Anytime you use credit cards, though, you should have a plan. Putting purchases on a card can quickly become dangerous, getting you in over your head with debt. If you do use credit cards for holiday shopping, make sure that you have a plan. Here are some tips that can help you maximize your credit card benefits:

• Be sure you have the money already: Don’t spend more than you actually have in your checking account. Make a holiday spending budget and stick to it. Keep track, using your personal finance software or a paper ledger, of what you are spending on each credit card.
• Pay off the balance as soon as possible: Since you won’t be going over your budget, you should be able to pay off the balance as soon as possible. Do this so that you do not accrue any interest on your purchases.
• Be aware of your remaining credit: Know exactly what your credit limit is, and how much credit is remaining. If you are keeping track, you should be able to avoid going over your credit limit and being slapped with large fees.
• Think twice before getting a store credit card: You will be tempted to get a department store credit card to save 10% or 15%. Carefully consider whether the savings are worth the higher interest, or the missed rewards on another card. If you are paying off the card, the interest may not matter, but you may miss out on some rewards to save a few bucks. Decide what is more important to you ahead of time, so that your decision is already made when you get to the store.

Shopping with credit cards doesn’t have to be a bad experience, and it doesn’t have to lead to crushing debt. But you do need to show discipline and restraint when you use your credit cards in order to get any benefit.

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This post was written by Miranda Marquit (Staff Writer)

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