Credit Cards, Insights

How Often Should I Use My Credit Card to Keep It Active?

flik eco finance personal how often should i use my credit card to keep it alive

When it comes to your credit card, you want to use it as often as possible. But how often is "often enough?" And how do you make sure you're using it enough to keep it active? In this blog post, we'll answer those questions and more! We'll provide a complete guide to how often you should use your credit card to keep it active and healthy. So whether you're just starting out with a new card or you've had one for years, this post is for you!

How Often Should I Use My Credit Card to Keep It Active Table of Contents

How Often Should I Use My Credit Card to Keep It Active?

What Happens If I Do Not Use My Credit Card?

What is Credit Card Utilization?

Why is Credit Card Utilization Important?

Can My Credit Card Company Cancel My Credit Card If I Do Not Use It?

How Many Times a Month Should You Use Your Credit Card?

How Many Times a Month Should I Use My Credit Card to Build Credit?

Do You Need to Use a Credit Card Every Month?

Should I Leave a Small Balance on My Credit Card?

If I Don't Use My Credit Card Do I Still Have to Pay?

How Many Times Can I Use My Credit Card in a Day?

How Long Can You Keep a Credit Card Open Without Using It?

How Often Should I Use My Credit Card to Keep It Active?

If you're like most people, you probably have at least one credit card that you use on a regular basis. But how often should you use your credit card to keep it active?

First, consider how often you typically use your credit card. If you only use it for occasional purchases, then using it once per month should be sufficient to keep it active. On the other hand, if you use your credit card regularly for everyday expenses, then using it more frequently - such as once per week - may be necessary to keep it active.

Second, consider your credit card issuer's requirements. Some issuers may require you to use your credit card at least once every three months to keep the account active. Others may have no such requirement. Be sure to check with your issuer to see what their policy is.

Finally, think about how having an inactive credit card would impact you. If having an inactive credit card would not be a major inconvenience, then you can probably afford to use it less frequently than if it would cause problems for you.

In general, as long as you use your credit card at least once per month and meet your issuer's requirements, you should be able to keep your account active without any issues. However, if you're unsure about your specific situation, it's always best to check with your issuer to be sure.

What Happens If I Do Not Use My Credit Card?

If you do not use your credit card, there are a few things that could happen. First, your credit card issuer may close your account due to inactivity. Second, you may lose any rewards or points that you have accumulated. Finally, your credit score could be affected if you have a balance on your credit card and stop making payments. All of these factors underscore the importance of using your credit card regularly.

What is Credit Card Utilization?

Credit card utilization is the percentage of your credit limit that you use. For example, if you have a credit card with a $1000 limit and you spend $500 in one month, your credit card utilization would be 50%.

Your credit card issuer will report your credit card utilization to the credit bureaus every month. And, your credit score is heavily influenced by how much of your available credit you're using. So, it's important to keep your utilization low - ideally below 30% - to help improve your score.

Why is Credit Card Utilization Important?

Credit card utilization is important because it's one of the factors that credit scoring models use to determine your creditworthiness. A high credit card utilization ratio can hurt your credit score, while a low ratio can help it.

Can My Credit Card Company Cancel My Credit Card If I Do Not Use It?

Your credit card company can cancel your credit card if you do not use it, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, your credit card issuer may periodically review your account to see if you are using your credit card enough. If they determine that you are not using your credit card, they may close your account.

Second, even if you are using your credit card regularly, there may be times when your issuer will require you to use your credit card more frequently or risk having your account canceled. For example, some issuers require customers to use their cards at least once every three months or else the account will be canceled.

Finally, if you have a rewards credit card, make sure you are using it often enough to earn and redeem rewards, as some issuers have minimum spending requirements in order to earn rewards.

How Many Times a Month Should You Use Your Credit Card?

Ideally, you should use your credit card at least once every three months. This will ensure that the account remains active and in good standing. Additionally, using your credit card regularly will help you keep track of your spending and ensure that you're not overspending.

Of course, there are times when it's simply not possible to use your credit card. If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry! As long as you make a point to use your credit card at least once every three months, you should be able to keep it active without any problems.

How Many Times a Month Should I Use My Credit Card to Build Credit?

In general, we recommend using your credit card at least once every couple of weeks. This will help keep your account active and ensure that you’re building a good history of responsible credit use.

The answer may depend on your individual situation, but we’ll give you a general idea of how often you should use your credit card to maintain a good credit score.

First, let’s start with the basics: You don’t need to use your credit card every day or even every week to keep it active. As long as you make a charge at least once every few months, your credit card issuer will report your activity to the major credit bureaus.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you do carry a balance on your credit card from month to month, you’ll want to use your credit card more frequently so that you don’t get hit with high interest charges.

Of course, the best way to use your credit card is to pay off your balance in full each month. This will help you avoid interest charges and keep your debt levels low. If you can do this, you may not need to use your credit card as often since there’s no financial benefit to doing so. 

Remember, there’s no magic number of times you need to use your credit card each month. The important thing is to use it responsibly and make sure you’re paying off your balance in full each month. If you can do this, you’ll be on your way to maintaining a good credit score.

Do You Need to Use a Credit Card Every Month?

The simple answer is no, you don’t need to use your credit card every month to keep it active. However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you plan on skipping a month or two of credit card use.

First, if you have a rewards credit card, you may be missing out on valuable points, miles or cash back if you don’t use your card. If earning rewards is important to you, then using your credit card regularly is key.

Second, if you have an annual fee for your credit card, not using it could mean that the cost of holding the card outweighs the benefits. This is especially true if you only use your credit card for emergencies and seldom carry a balance.

If you decide that you don’t need to use your credit card every month, be sure to at least make a small purchase – such as a tank of gas or a cup of coffee – and pay it off in full so you don’t incur any interest charges. This will help keep your account active without adding to your debt.

Should I Leave a Small Balance on My Credit Card?

Leaving a small balance on your credit card is one way to keep it active. This can help if you have a 0% APR promotion and want to avoid paying interest charges. When you leave a balance, make sure to pay the minimum payment each month on time. Doing so will help keep your credit score high and avoid any late fees.

Another way to keep your credit card active is by using it for everyday purchases such as gas or groceries. If you typically use cash or debit for these items, consider using your credit card instead.

Just be sure to pay off the balance in full each month so you don't accrue any interest charges.

If I Don't Use My Credit Card Do I Still Have to Pay?

No, you don't have to pay if you don't use your credit card. However, if you don't use your credit card, the issuer may close your account due to inactivity. Additionally, if you have a balance on your credit card when it's closed, you'll be responsible for paying off that debt. So even if you're not using your credit card, it's still important to keep up with payments.

How Many Times Can I Use My Credit Card in a Day?

You can use your credit card as many times as you want in a day. However, if you make too many transactions in a short period of time, your bank may flag your account for suspicious activity. If this happens, your card may be temporarily suspended until you can confirm that the charges are legitimate.

To avoid having your account flagged, try to spread out your credit card use throughout the day. For example, if you know you’ll be making several purchases in one day, space them out rather than doing them all at once.

How Long Can You Keep a Credit Card Open Without Using It?

Your credit card issuer may close your account if you don't use it often enough.

So how often should you use your credit card to keep it active?

Here are a few general guidelines:

  • Use your credit card at least once every three months. This will help keep your account active and prevent it from being closed due to inactivity.
  • If you have a rewards credit card, be sure to use it regularly to earn and redeem points. Rewards cards typically require more frequent usage than non-rewards cards.
  • If you're trying to improve your credit score, using your credit card regularly can help. But be sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid costly interest charges.

Following these guidelines should help you keep your credit card account active and in good standing. And that's important for maintaining a healthy credit history and score.

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About Jermaine Hagan (The Plantsman)

Jermaine Hagan, also known as The Plantsman is the Founder of Flik Eco. Jermaine is the perfect hybrid of personal finance expert and nemophilist. On a mission to make personal finance simple and accessible, Jermaine uses his inside knowledge to help the average Joe, Kwame or Sarah to improve their lives. Before founding Flik Eco, Jermaine managed teams across several large financial companies, including Equifax, Admiral Plc, New Wave Capital & HSBC. He has been featured in several large publications including BBC, The Guardian & The Times.

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