This is so true! I just got my first credit card a few months back, and I have found it difficult to take advantage of a rewards program. However, I'm also a very careful spender. My self-imposed limit is way lower than my actual limit; I never spend more than I can pay off all at once by the deadline.

We only use are credit card when something comes up and we do not have the cash on hand at the moment.And then when we get the bill we pay it off.

I take full advantage of my rewards program and it has paid off two Christmases in a row. It will be paying off in an mp3 player for me in the near future as well.

The way we do it, however, is to have one card that is exclusively for reward-earning purchases. Then we just use it in place of our debit cards. Meanwhile, I drop money onto it on a weekly or greater basis to cover the purchases. The card limits online payments in amount and frequency, however there is no limit to the number of times I can send a payment from my bank account.

I read on a forum somewhere that they actually charge you for NOT using your credit card. Is this true or does it depend on the credit card?

Do you remember where you read that? The only thing I can think of that is remotely similar to that is annual fees. In reality, nobody should take a CC that charges an annual fee.

I do not take credit cards that charge annual fees either. They are not worth it.

See that is why I don't use credit cards with all the interest and hidden charges. Best thing to do is to pay in cash.

I have never heard of a credit card that charges you for not using it. But I do agree with the one post. It is good to try to pay cash for everything.

You can actually make money off the credit cards - if you have the money that is. Keep your money in an account that is drawing interest. Use the credit card company's money to make your purchases. Pay off the account each month so the company never makes a dime off of you, but you get the interest your money earned in the mean time.

You are not in the losing end if you purchase an item using your credit card to produce another item. It's like you buy something out of a promo and sell this at a higher rate.

Kelkat..so true.
Good advise.

My father has used a rewards credit card for his businesses for years. He pays his monthly balance in full each month and every few months, a check for about $100 shows up (he gets his rewards based on gas purchases because that's what he purchases the most for his company). Pretty awesome.

Yes, reward credit cards can give you a nice little benefit. You have to use the card a lot and make sure that you sign-up with a reward program that will benefit you.

Sounds like you dad has done just that.

all credit cards charge some fee or another
they dont tell you unless your read the mice print
when your sign up
its either a annual fee of membership fee
there all in busines to make money off of you
you must check your statement every month
i should know i worked with capital one for 15 years