To think most people don’t actually pay off their credit cards in full each month?

Always pay off in full, even when I was younger and had to then put more on, it was always drilled into me to pay it off in full otherwise you're paying more for every item you put on it.

I use the credit card just as a payment method, not because I don't have the cash in another bank account

I use a credit card to make purchases for the additional protection that purchasing with a credit card gives, and I pay off entirely each month. I took a credit card out at 18 to build up my credit score so would put all my fuel costs on to the card and pay off each month.

I think some people see credit cards and overdrafts as free money but if I cannot afford it, I do not buy it.

If I want something I ask do I need it? If I need it and I can afford it, I will buy it. If I don’t need it but I really want it, I ask myself, can I afford this 3x? If I can, I will buy it. This has always made me evaluate whether I can truly afford it or whether I’m just ignoring the fact I can’t because I could scrape together to get it if I really had to. That isn’t something I want to do for something I simply want.

I am more strict than most friends and family but it has really worked in my favour in life so far!

if I wouldn’t be able to clear the balance I wouldn’t buy it

obviously there is a limit - when absolute essentials are more than income - but that’s up shit creek - debt spiral

When I was married we ran up a lot of debt on a credit card in my name.. it took a long time to pay off and was a very expensive mistake. If I had one now, I would only use it for purchases where I needed the additional protection, otherwise I stick to my debit card and only spend what I have.

If you don’t pay it off, then every item you’ve bought cost more than you think.

Significantly more.

Do a month where you don’t buy anything that you can manage without. Run down the freezer, do without things, even if it hurts a bit. See how many things you can ‘not buy’ for a change. Just a month.
That will bring the amount on your credit card down a bit, and you need to repeat that every other month until it’s clear.

Always pay it off. I only use it for buyer protection and business expenses though.

I pay it all off.
I hate debt. I can just about handle having to have a mortgage!

Years ago before we moved in together DP had a huge credit card bill. Did the old trick of transferring to a new card. Took several years to pay off.

Always. It’s used for big purchases and paid off each month.

Never do. Never have. We always have 0% interest cards and use them for bigger purchases. Then we chuck lump sums at the card until it’s either clear or we transfer to another 0% card.

we could clear the balance if we have to but our savings are earning more than the debt costs so we leave it as it is.

Always

We do.

Why do you think so?

I never looked for any statistics for this.

Both.
I have two cards, one I pay off monthly as it's used for all spending, I get clubcard points.
Another one is 0% that I use for actual credit for things like car insurance and pay off bits monthly as it's cheaper than paying interest to the car insurance people.

I always do. If I get into trouble then I transfer balance to a 0% card. Interest charges are literally throwing money away.

Amex here, paid off in full every month.

@PoliteCyanViewer do you feel stuck in a cycle of debt repayment? Do you want advice on that?

What have you used the card for?

When I ran up debt in my twenties, it was a classic Chuck Palahniuk case of “buying things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like.”

I put everything on mine, and pay in full at the end of each month. If I needed credit, I used to when I was younger, but not now, I’d take out a specific loan. Card interest is so high.

Yes, in full, apart from cards that we might borrow on for 0% interest, but the DD is always set to pay it off fully before the offer ends.

In my younger years, I carried balances, paid interest, and learnt from that very costly mistake.

We do, and now set up to pay with direct debit (full amount). I forgot once, very annoying to get charged.

We don’t. We put our holidays on it and pay some off each month. When it’s paid off we put the next holiday on. Always use interest free cards though and keep a close eye on them to avoid paying any interest.

Yes, always, by direct debit for the full amount

Depends on what it was used for these days.

Years ago when we were skint (part time, large childcare bills etc) we didn’t and ended up in a lot of debt.

Now, it’s only used with thought, either for the protection or because with our Monzo card we can make the patent split into three interest free. We’ve recently made a couple of large purchases using this. We could pay it off with savings if needed but as it’s interest free there is no need. Also slowly helping to rebuild our credit using it wisely.

Always. Never pay interest here. House is paid up, cars bought with cash, credit cards paid up at end of each month. We are pensioners. If we don’t have it we don’t spend it