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How Many Credit Cards Should I Have - Coast Tradelines

Dec 19

How Much Credit Cards Should I Have? The Intersection of Credit Cards and Tradelines Explained

 

One question that perplexes individuals with regard to their finances is "How how many credit-cards should I carry?" This question becomes much more relevant when you are thinking about adding tradelines to your credit report. Let's simplify this subject giving you the knowledge and the path to take confident financial decisions.

The Conundrum of Credit Card Numbers: Why It Matters

The number of credit card you use is not just one of your personal choices for convenience. It also influences your credit score. While you're aware that a credit line can help your credit score, you're likely in a state of confusion about how many cards you need to have.

The Pros and Cons of Owning Multiple Credit Cards

Before we look at the number of credit cards you're allowed to have let's look at the benefits and downsides of having several credit cards.

Advantages of Owning Multiple Credit Cards

  • If you're a credit card holder with multiple cards, your credit limit can be greater. A higher credit limit is great for emergency expenses or large purchases.
  • Make use of credit cards with rewards as well as cashback to save when you buy things daily.
  • The ratio of your credit utilization will rise. Your credit utilization ratio is related to the amount of credit available that you currently use. Utilizing multiple credit cards can increase your credit score through dividing your balances.

Disadvantages of Owning Multiple Credit Cards

  • Multiple credit cards can make you more likely to overspend and get into debt.
  • It's not difficult to make unexpected purchase that you cannot afford if you have many credit cards.
  • Managing multiple credit cards can require more time and effort. Even more so if payment times are different.
  • More cards can lead to excessive credit utilization. A high CUR can negatively impact your credit score.
  • Different cards have different benefits. With too few cards, you risk missing out on diverse benefits.
  • On the flip side having too many accounts can make keeping track on payment due dates a struggle. It can result to penalties for late payments and a deterioration of credit score.

Key Points to Consider When Applying for Credit Cards

  1. Variety of Benefits: Find cards that come with perks, such as travel rewards, cashback or low-interest rates.
  2. Annual Fees: Make sure the card's benefits exceed any annual fees.
  3. Interest Rates: Lower APRs are essential unless you're certain that you'll pay the balance every month.
  4. Credit Limit: A higher credit limit can improve your credit utilization ratio, if you don't overdraw it.

Average Number Credit Cards Should I Have

Now that we've looked at the pros and cons of having multiple credit card accounts, let's take a look at how many credit card you should have. How many credit card accounts is too many, and how many are sufficient?

Financial experts suggest having between 3 and five credit cards to create an overall credit profile. This gives you a variety of advantages and boosts the credit utilization ratio.

Factors to Consider When Deciding The Number Credit Cards to Own

A variety of factors should be considered when deciding how many credit cards to keep. These factors include:

  • Credit score and history: Your credit scores and histories will affect how many credit cards to have. You can only be eligible to get one or two credit cards in the event that have an unsatisfactory credit score or a poor credit history.
  • Income and expenses: Your income and expenses will also be important. If you earn a high income and lower expenses, you will be able to have more credit card accounts than those with lower incomes and higher expenses.
  • Financial goals and priorities: Your financial objectives and priorities will affect the number and type of credit cards you need to own. If you're trying to improve your credit rating or earn rewards, consider having a variety of credit cards.

Recommended Number of Credit Cards Based on Different Scenarios

Here are some suggested numbers of credit cards that are based off of different scenarios:

  • For those who have no credit history If you have no credit history, you may be eligible for one or two credit cards.
  • For people having average credit scores If you have an average credit score you may own two or three credit cards.
  • For people with excellent credit scores: If you have excellent credit scores you may have at least four credit cards.

How Owning Multiple Credit Cards Affects Your Credit Score

Now that we've examined how many credit cards should you have let's examine how applying multiple credit cards affects your credit score.

Positive Impact of Owning Multiple Credit Cards on Credit Score

Multiple credit cards positively impact your credit score in many ways that include:

  • Increased credit utilization ratio Having multiple credit card accounts can aid in improving your CUR. The spreads the balances on multiple cards.
  • Diversified credit mix: A diversified credit mix can help improve your credit score.

Negative Impact of Owning Multiple Credit Cards on Credit Score

Possessing multiple credit cards can affect your credit score in the following ways:

    • Greater risk of missing payments and delinquencies: Owning a lot of credit cards can result in a greater chance of missing payments. There is also the chance of being in delinquency to your credit card accounts.
    • New credit inquiries and increased credit accounts Affiliation to multiple credit cards can generate multiple credit enquiries as well as new accounts. Both of these can affect your credit score.
    • Lower average account age: Owning multiple credit cards can lower the age average of your accounts. In turn, it could lower your credit score.
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