Credit cards are helpful in a range of unexpected circumstances most of us face at least once in our lives. A line of credit can be essential if you’re facing an emergency repair bill or sudden expense. Although we recommend creating an emergency fund to help when unplanned expenses pop up, a credit card can help you bridge the gap between paydays if you can’t. Still, they don’t offer a long-term solution.
If you do turn to a credit card for financial help, some credit cards offer an introductory 0% APR for a limited time. This can give you some breathing room from interest charges. If you’re in the market for a credit card to have on hand in case of an emergency, here are some to consider.
Read more: We Rated the Safest (and Riskiest) Ways for Getting Fast Cash
How to choose a credit card for emergencies
Finding the right credit card to use in an emergency can be difficult, particularly if you have imperfect credit or you’re just starting to build credit for the first time. Also consider any fees, as well as rewards programs and cardholder perks.
Here’s what to know:
- Eligibility requirements: Make sure you have a general idea of your credit score. This factor will determine which credit cards you’re eligible for. You may have to start with a secured credit card if you have no credit history at all.
- The card’s annual percentage rate, or APR:If your card has a high APR and you’re unable to pay off the balance right away, you’ll have to deal with expensive interest charges. Any balance that isn’t paid off will accrue interest each month it remains unpaid.
- Annual fees: Try to find an emergency credit card that doesn’t charge an annual fee. Also look out for other fees like penalty interest rates, late fees and returned payment fees.
- Rewards rates: Some credit cards for emergencies offer rewards for spending, which can help you get something back for each dollar spent. There are even credit cards that have a welcome bonus you can earn if you meet a minimum spending requirement within a few months of account opening. Just avoid overspending in order to reach it.
Pros and cons of using a credit card for emergencies
Having some way to pay for emergency expenses is always a good idea. After all, having access to emergency funds can help you avoid falling behind on bills and facing late fees. But there are some downsides as well.
✅Pros:
- Emergency credit cards are there if you need access to a line of credit
- You can control how much you borrow at a time
- You can earn rewards for some of your purchases
- Some cards have 0% intro APR offers that help you avoid interest charges for a time
❌Cons:
- Credit cards make it easy to overspend
- Some credit cards require higher credit scores
- Interest rates are high, which can lead to expensive interest charges
- Late payments and high debt levels can hurt your credit score
What types of credit cards are best for emergencies?
Some credit cards are better than others for financing unexpected expenses. An introductory APR will let you avoid interest while you take some time to pay off a large expense. A specialized rewards program will let you earn some cash back or other rewards to recoup some of your costs if you can pay it off right away.
Pay attention to the timelines or spending caps on these offers though — there may be restrictions on these features.
When should you use an emergency credit card?
Using a credit card for emergencies makes the most sense when you need a fast and easy way to cover surprise expenses, but know you’ll be able to pay the balance in full when it comes due.
An emergency credit card can also make sense for people who want a line of credit at the ready in the case of an emergency. This can be especially true for people who travel and want a credit card they can use for unforeseen expenses. For example, you may have enough money in your bank account to cover a purchase, but it might be harder to access that money if you’re overseas. In this case, an emergency credit card can come in handy.
A credit card shouldn’t be your go-to method if you can’t afford to buy something. Instead, you should create a budget so you can track how much is going in and out of your account each month. This will help you know how much you have available to spend.
A credit card can be a suitable backup, as long as you understand the terms. Make sure you can repay the card balance as quickly as possible to minimize interest and don’t get into the habit of using a credit card for purchases you can’t afford to pay back.
Even if you have a 0% introductory APR offer, you’ll still need to make minimum payments each month to keep your account current. Missing this payment or paying late can cause considerable damage to your credit score and may eliminate your introductory APR period.
How to effectively use your credit card for an emergency
To get the most out of an emergency credit card, use it only for purchases you have to make and have a plan in place ahead of time to pay down the charges. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Avoid the temptation to overspend. Charge only emergency purchases you can’t cover with cash and avoid situations where you’re tempted to buy unneeded items or make more charges.
- Have a plan to pay off the debt. If you have to cover an emergency car repair bill or pay for daycare on the fly, make sure you have a plan to pay the money back. Otherwise, credit card debt could become an issue.
- Look for emergency cards with intro APR offers. If you want to avoid interest charges for a limited time, look for credit cards that come with 0% interest on purchases, balance transfers or both for a year or longer.
- Use rewards to reduce your balance. Some emergency credit cards let you earn cash back for each dollar you spend, which you can redeem in different ways. If your card offers statement credits as a redemption option, you can redeem rewards to reduce the balance you owe on your card. Just don’t fall into the trap of overspending to earn rewards.
Alternatives to using credit cards for emergencies
While credit cards can be a useful tool when you face an emergency expense, there are other types of ways to pay.
- Emergency fund: Experts recommend saving six months’ worth of expenses in a high-yield savings account to have on hand in case of a surprise expense or job loss. While it will take some time to build this amount, working toward this goal can help prevent you from accruing credit card interest.
- Ask about payment plans: If you’re tempted to use a credit card to pay your utility bill, there may be another option. Sometimes bill companies and lenders will set you up with a payment plan if you’re facing financial hardship. They may even extend your due date to give you more time to pay. While there’s no guarantee, proactively asking for an extension or payment plan may save you from turning to a credit card.
- Personal loans: If you need a more substantial amount of money, a personal loan can offer you a lump sum of money up front (usually $2,000 up to $50,000), which you’ll repay with a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payment over a set term. Some personal loans can be funded as soon as the same day. Compare different lenders and repayment plans to find the best fit for you.
- Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs): HELOCs use your home as collateral for the loan and provide a line of credit you can borrow against as needed. These lines of credit require a considerable amount of home equity to qualify, and they typically have a draw period where you can borrow money and a repayment period where you can no longer access new funding. Home equity lines of credit typically have variable interest rates and base your monthly payment on how much you actually borrow. However, if you fail to pay back your HELOC, you risk losing your home.
- Home equity loans: Home equity loans let you borrow against the equity in your home, then pay back the money with a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payment. However, you need considerable home equity to qualify, and you have to settle on a specific amount of cash you need up front. Home equity loans can also take a month or longer to move through the process and provide funding, so they won’t work for emergencies when you need the money quickly. Like HELOCs, home equity loans are secured loans, which means you could lose your house if you’re unable to repay what you borrowed.
How to apply for a credit card
Once you find the right card, follow these tips to apply:
- Choose a card that matches your needs. That could mean choosing one with an introductory APR offer or other features.
- Go to the credit card issuer’s secure site to apply.
- Fill out the appropriate financial and personal information including your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, income, and monthly rent or mortgage payment.
- Use the card responsibly and always pay on time.
FAQs
Should I carry an emergency credit card in my wallet or keep it at home?
If you’re traveling, we recommend bringing your emergency credit card with you to help navigate mishaps like a missed flight. Otherwise, leave your emergency credit card at home to avoid the temptation of non-emergency spending.
How can an emergency credit card improve my credit score?
A credit score measures your creditworthiness, based on your track record with credit cards, loans and mortgages. Establishing a credit history and building your credit score sets the stage for renting an apartment, applying for a car loan and buying a house — and, generally, the higher your score, the less expensive it is to borrow. So even if you don’t plan to regularly use an emergency credit card, having one will help you build credit with minimal effort.
What types of credit cards are good for emergencies?
Some credit cards are better than others for financing unexpected expenses. An introductory APR lets you avoid interest while paying off a large amount. A specialized rewards program will let you earn some cash back or other rewards to recoup some of your costs if you can pay it off right away. Pay attention to the timelines or spending caps on these offers though: There may be restrictions on these features.
What if I don’t make any purchases on my emergency credit card?
Technically, you don’t have to ever use your emergency credit card. It’s a good idea to make a small charge every few months and pay it off right away to keep your account active, however. Credit card issuers reserve the right to close your account without notice for lack of use.
What happens if I cancel my emergency credit card?
Whether you close your credit card account can be a matter of personal preference, but there are some factors to consider. Closing a credit card — particularly one that’s been open for a while — may have adverse effects on your credit score. On the other hand, if you can’t responsibly use a credit card, closing an account may be a good option to avoid using it. Make sure you close the account properly if you choose to do so.
What are the risks of using a credit card?
When you make purchases with a credit card, there are several risks that can have long-term impacts on your financial health. If you don’t make payments in full, you will accrue interest charges if you’re not using an introductory APR promotion. You may also incur late fees and other charges for missed payments. Ultimately, any irresponsible credit use can lead to debt and a damaged credit score.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
“slot gaco”, Kalau belum siap-siap cinta program slot demo adalah? slots sering, kasih jatuh win sama Yup ini. mesin-mesin dibilang mesin adalah yang jagoannya buat membawa. come back, cuan. ini bisa but gimana
tekniknya nemuin slot demo benar Santai Bro, bahas sih tenang saja di sini yang Gaming? terpopuler saat, kita sekarang satu-satunya di hanya di
akan menyediakan return on Investment tertinggi Daftarkanlah di Indonesia pasti memberikan return terbesar SEGERA
hanya di dengan:
Informasi mengenai KING SLOT, Segera Daftar Bersama king selot terbaik dan terpercaya no satu di Indonesia. Boleh mendaftar melalui sini king slot serta memberikan hasil kembali yang paling tinggi saat sekarang ini hanyalah KING SLOT atau Raja slot paling gacor, gilak dan gaco saat sekarang di Indonesia melalui program return tinggi di kingselot serta pg king slot
slot demo gacor
slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kdwapp.com
akun demo slot gacor
akun demo slot gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kdwapp.com
akun slot demo gacor
akun slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kdwapp.com
akun demo slot pragmatic
akun demo slot pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kdwapp.com
akun slot demo pragmatic
akun slot demo pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kdwapp.com
akun slot demo
akun slot demo permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kdwapp.com
akun demo slot
akun demo slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kdwapp.com
slot demo gacor
slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jebswagstore.com
akun demo slot gacor
akun demo slot gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jebswagstore.com
akun slot demo gacor
akun slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jebswagstore.com
akun demo slot pragmatic
akun demo slot pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jebswagstore.com
akun slot demo pragmatic
akun slot demo pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jebswagstore.com
akun slot demo
akun slot demo permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jebswagstore.com
akun demo slot
akun demo slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jebswagstore.com
slot demo gacor
slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama demoslotgacor.pro
akun demo slot gacor
akun demo slot gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama demoslotgacor.pro
akun slot demo gacor
akun slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama demoslotgacor.pro
akun demo slot pragmatic
akun demo slot pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama demoslotgacor.pro
akun slot demo pragmatic
akun slot demo pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama demoslotgacor.pro
akun slot demo
akun slot demo permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama demoslotgacor.pro
akun demo slot
akun demo slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama demoslotgacor.pro
slot demo gacor
slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
akun demo slot gacor
akun demo slot gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
akun slot demo gacor
akun slot demo gacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
akun demo slot pragmatic
akun demo slot pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
akun slot demo pragmatic
akun slot demo pragmatic permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
akun slot demo
akun slot demo permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
akun demo slot
akun demo slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
situs slot terbaru
situs slot terbaru permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
slot terbaru
slot terbaru permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsslotterbaru.net
sewaapartemen permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama sewaapartemen.org
pipapvc permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pipapvc.org
pialaeropa2028 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pialaeropa2028.net
pialadunia2026 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pialadunia2026.asia
bahanbangunan permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama bahanbangunan.org
gemini999 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama gemini999.org
havana888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama havana888.net
indonesia88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama indonesia88.info
inspirasi permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama inspirasi.info
jokiwin88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama jokiwin88.org
oli88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama oli88.org
situs88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situs88.asia
transfermarkt88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama transfermarkt88.com
rossi46 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama rossi46.com
pecco88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pecco88.com
pecco permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pecco.asia
pangkas permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pangkas.net
facebook88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama facebook88.com
depo88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama depo88.asia
bajaringan88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama bajaringan88.com
baja ringan permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama bajaringan.asia
tradingview88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama tradingview88.com
trading88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama trading88.org
tokopedia88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama tokopedia88.net
kualifikasi permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kualifikasi.net
grosirboneka permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama grosirboneka.net
situsgacor permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama situsgacor.news
prediksi88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama prediksi88.biz
keramat88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama keramat88.biz
cnn88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama cnn88.asia
cnbc88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama cnbc88.com
bloomberg88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama bloomberg88.com
antibocor88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama antibocor88.com
buku88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama buku88.org
dukun88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama dukun88.info
indodax88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama indodax88.net
investing88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama investing88.net
makanan88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama makanan88.net
pakaian88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pakaian88.com
rambo88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama rambo88.info
santet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama santet88.net
sekolah88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama sekolah88.org
uno88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama uno88.info
starlink88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama starlink88.org
solitaire88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama solitaire88.net
roblox88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama roblox88.org
pubg88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pubg88.info
motogp88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama motogp88.net
motivasi88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama motivasi88.com
mobilelegends88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama mobilelegends88.com
ludoking permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama ludoking.asia
kucing88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kucing88.asia
kucing permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kucing.info
klasmen88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama klasmen88.com
imdb88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama imdb88.net
higgsdomino permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama higgsdomino.biz
gmail88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama gmail88.org
gmail88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama gmail88.net
chess88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama chess88.info
callofduty88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama callofduty88.com
semen88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama semen88.com
seluler88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama seluler88.com
ram88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama ram88.net
pasir88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pasir88.asia
papan88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama papan88.info
komputer88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama komputer88.net
kayu88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kayu88.info
kabel88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama kabel88.net
gaming88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama gaming88.asia
games88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama games88.info
beton88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama beton88.lat
teknis88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama teknis88.com
sarana88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama sarana88.info
arena88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama arena88.asia
viral888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama viral888.asia
usdt88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama usdt88.net
uang88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama uang88.asia
twitter88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama twitter88.asia
tahanlama88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama tahanlama88.com
suka88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama suka88.biz
sekali88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama sekali88.org
plafonpvc permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama plafonpvc.net
pinjol88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pinjol88.asia
mpox88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama mpox88.com
daun88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama daun88.asia
wordpress88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama wordpress88.net
whatsapp88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama whatsapp88.net
wechat88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama wechat88.net
telegram88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama telegram88.org
super888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama super888.asia
skype88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama skype88.com
racing88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama racing88.asia
pupuk88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pupuk88.net
petani888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama petani888.org
pabrik88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama pabrik88.asia
organik88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama organik88.com
online77 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama online77.info
ojek88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama ojek88.info
nostalgia88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama nostalgia88.com
michat permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama michat.info
