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Rediff.com  » Getahead » Why using credit cards to pay your wedding bills is a bad, bad idea!
This article was first published 10 years ago

Why using credit cards to pay your wedding bills is a bad, bad idea!

Last updated on: June 30, 2014 15:59 IST


Photographs: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters Rajiv Raj

Apart from your wedding and honeymoon here are five instances when you will be tempted to swipe your credit card. And here is why it's a bad idea

Your credit card is a very powerful financial tool you own these days. If used intelligently then it can bring you a host of benefits. Else it can turn your life upside down.

There could be plenty of reasons to use a credit card such as convenience, accountability, safety etc.

But there are certain transactions for which you should never use your credit cards.

CreditVidya.com have compiled top five swipes you should not use your credit card, and for these transactions cash, debit or anything else would be a better choice.

Here are five instances when you should never use your credit card to avoid a dent in your CIBIL score. They are...

The author is a credit expert with 10 years of experience in personal finance and consumer banking industry and another 7 years in credit bureau sector. Rajiv was instrumental in setting up India's first credit bureau, Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL). He has also worked with Citibank, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank and Experian in various capacities.

 

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1. Medical bills


Photographs: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Never use your credit card to fund your medical expenses. Mediclaims are meant to do that.

Insure yourself and your family adequately so that you don't run around hunting for funding sources when your near and dear ones are unwell or are in an emergency.

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2. Taxes


Photographs: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Never use your credit card funds to pay your taxes. That's a grave mistake people in the developed economies like the US and the UK make.

Let us learn from their mistakes.

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Tags: UK , US

3. Educational expenses


Photographs: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Do not pay your college, tuition or admission fees using your credit card.

Use your earnings or take an educational loan for that. You could also borrow from your parents.

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4. Vacations


Photographs: KingKurt22/Wikimedia Creative Commons

This is one of the most unnecessary expense people take up on their credit card, especially vacations abroad which run into lakhs.

Instead make a recurring deposit and use that amount towards funding the expense for your trip abroad.

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5. Wedding


Photographs: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters

While most Indians still use their parents' funds to get married, many of them have started using their own funds to get married.

Make sure that you do not swipe your credit card to fund your wedding expenses.

Instead use your savings or earnings. Along with the wedding comes the honeymoon, an added expense. :-)

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