How New Grads Can Use Low-Interest Credit Cards to Build Smart Credit Habits

As you start your life after graduation, you might have your eyes set on big personal and financial goals, like renting an apartment, buying a car, or making a down payment on your first home.  

Many of these goals require a good credit score. A low-interest credit card is one way to boost your credit score while helping you save money over the long term.  

Keep reading to learn how a low-interest credit card can help you build smart credit habits and move you closer towards your financial goals. 

What’s a low-interest credit card? 

A low-interest credit card offers an annual percentage rate (APR) that’s lower than a standard credit card rate.  

For instance, a standard credit card may charge 21% interest. With a low-interest credit card, you might only pay 12%. If you tend to carry a balance, this can help you save money over time. 

When choosing a credit card, compare interest rates from multiple issuers to find the best deal. Before you apply, seek out pre-approval offers, which can give you a sense of the interest rate you qualify for without impacting your credit score. 

How to use a low-interest credit card wisely 

After you find the right low-interest credit card for your needs, you want to make sure you’re using it wisely. Here are some strategies you can employ to promote responsible credit card use. 

Always pay on time 

Your payment history accounts for the largest portion of your credit score. Paying your bills on time each month can boost your credit score, while a late or missed payment can cause your score to drop.  

If you’re worried about forgetting to pay your bill, consider setting up automatic payments to cover your minimum amount. 

Make more than the minimum payment  

Ideally, you want to pay your monthly credit card bill in full to avoid paying interest altogether. If this isn’t possible, aim to pay more than your minimum. The lower your balance is, the less interest you will owe over time. 

If you find it difficult to pay a large credit card bill all at once, try making multiple smaller payments throughout the month.   

Keep your balance low 

In addition to raising your interest costs, maxing out your credit card raises your credit utilization, which can have a negative effect on your credit score.  

Your credit utilization is the amount of available credit that you’re using at a given time. Most experts recommend keeping your credit utilization below 30%.1 This shows that you aren’t overextending yourself and can manage your credit responsibly. 

Avoid cash advances 

A cash advance on a credit card is when you borrow cash against your credit limit. While cash advances can be convenient, they’re an expensive way to get cash.  

The interest rate on a cash advance is usually higher than on a regular purchase, and some credit cards also charge a fee for them. And, unlike regular credit card purchases, which have a 21-day interest-free grace period, cash advances start accumulating interest from the moment you take out the money.  

Smart credit choices now can pay off in the long run 

As you graduate from school and move on to the next chapter of your life, your credit score becomes more important in helping you achieve your short- and long-term financial goals. Finding a low-interest credit card and learning how to use it responsibly can help you boost your credit score, keep costs down and create a foundation for the future you want.   

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