Adapted from Better Money Habits®
Dealing with credit card debt may be easier than you think.
Planning and perseverance are key, as is knowing how your debt factors into your overall financial health. When paying down your debt, some actions help more than others, but every step you take toward managing credit card debt is a step in the right direction. Here’s what you need to know.
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The responsible road |
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The debt ditch |
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Pay a bit more
Paying more than the minimum can help you become debt-free a lot faster and ultimately lessen the amount you owe. |
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Pay the bare minimum
Paying the minimum may make your debt seem more manageable in the short term, but the less you pay now, the longer it takes to pay off and the more you pay in interest. |
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Pay on time, every time
Regular payments help you work toward eliminating debt and show that you are responsible with credit. |
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Make late payments
Late payments can hurt your credit score. Plus, missing payments can lead to fees and penalties and may even raise your interest rate. |
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Transfer your balance
Transferring your balance to a card with a lower APR can help you save on interest in the long term, but be sure to look into transfer fees. |
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Ignore the terms
Pay attention to rate increases and other conditions of your card agreement so you’re not surprised by interest rate changes or fees. |
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Watch your wallet
If you don’t need something, don’t buy it. Plan for big-ticket items and stick to your everyday budget. |
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Shop till you drop
Maxing out your card may cause your interest rates to increase and affect your credit. |
Two essentials to consider
What “paying the
minimum” means
Paying more can lead to significant savings. For example, if you have a $5,000 balance on a card with 13% interest, you could save more than $4,000 in interest by paying a fixed $175 a month instead of the minimum:
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Minimum payment1 |
Higher payment |
Payment amount |
$100 (first month) |
$175 |
Years to repay |
23+ |
3 |
Total interest |
$5,359 |
$1,016 |
What happens to
your credit
Keeping your credit score high makes it cheaper to borrow. But maxing out your cards or ignoring payments can hurt your score. Here’s how:2
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Potential effect on a 680 score |
Potential effect on a 780 score |
Maxed-out card |
10 to 30 point decrease |
110 to 130 point decrease |
30-day late payment |
25 to 45 point decrease |
60 to 80 point decrease |
Don’t ignore your debt—make paying it down part of your monthly budget. Keep in mind that the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) recommends that your debt payments, excluding mortgage or rent, not exceed 20% of your monthly income.
Learn more and take action
- If you'd like a little extra help, learn how a credit counselor might help you.
- If your credit cards carry high-interest-rate balances, learn how transferring debt from one or more high-interest cards to a single card with a lower rate might make sense for you.
1 Assumes minimum payment as 2%. Source: Bankrate. August 20, 2022.
2 Assumes certain conditions. Source: FICO 2019.
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