Arthur Fuentes

Article (news)

Aneth Ng-Lim

<div><br/></div><p>ABSCBN took to X over the weekend and asked its followers for their best credit card hacks.  With the post getting nearly 200,000 views, netizens were generous with sharing their wisdom when it comes to their plastic currencies.</p><p>Here are the popular replies that can help you save money and keep you from getting into debt.  I’ve added a few of my own to help you take better control of your credit card.</p><div><strong>#1 Swipe after statement date to postpone payment</strong></div><p>@laylovemeright suggested this so you don’t have to pay your bill until nearly 2 months later.  It’s a neat trick if you need something now but your money will come in the next 30 days or longer.  </p><p>Every credit card has a cut-off date at which time your statement is generated.  If your cut-off date is the 5th of the month, using it on the 4th means you will pay for that bill in about two weeks, or on your due date.  But if you swipe on the 6th, you can enjoy interest-free credit for as long as 30 to 45 days.  Please note that the interest-free period only applies if you do not have outstanding balance or just paying the minimum amount due.</p><div><strong>#2 Pay before due date and avoid charges</strong></div><p>The best credit card hack for @its_wendzday is not to use one.  But if you have to, her advice is to pay before the due date so you don’t incur fees.  </p><p>Most people take note of the due date on their credit card statement and pay on that date.  But if it’s a holiday, or the weekend, your payment may be posted a few days later and you could get hit with penalties and interest charges.  So try to pay three working days before your credit card payment is due so you avoid your card getting blocked and your account being hit with additional fees. </p><div><strong>#3 Pay your bill in full</strong></div><p>Credit card debt is one of the most expensive debt there is, if not the most expensive.  The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas capped credit card interest rate in the country at 3% per month, which translates to 36% per year.  Compare that to how much interest your bank is paying your savings, which is around 0.0625%, and that’s a painful difference. No wonder many netizens repeated this advice across the thread – as much as possible, always pay your credit card bill in full.</p><div><strong>#4 Come out ahead with rewards, rebates and waivers</strong></div><p>It was interesting to see the money savvy of @kulasdayaw, @ Sam_EtteV, @m_sad11, @mcintosssh and many others.  @kulasdayaw only uses cards with cash back credits and pays in full so this way, the cards are paying him/her and he/she comes out ahead.  @Sam_EtteV not only looks for cashback but also vouchers and points, like @m_sad11, to get more value for money spent.  When charged with annual fee, @mcintosssh calls customer service to get it waived based on good credit standing.</p><div><strong>#5 Can you afford to pay it in cash?</strong></div><p>For @bulba_moon, a credit card is not an extension of his wallet and offers this standard: if you can’t buy it in cash x2, you can’t afford it.  I’m not sure about the x2 as that may be a tough standard for most, but I agree that it is good to check your ability to pay first before you swipe that plastic.  @HollieSheesh is more direct: “if you can’t afford it in cash, means you can’t afford it.”</p><div><strong>#6 Be smart about your plastics</strong></div><p>After owning your first credit card, you will find it is easier to get another and another.  That’s because many credit card companies now approve applications based on the person’s ownership of another credit card.  My advice: just because you can get another card does not mean you need one.  Every credit card you own means another annual fee to pay, more risk of you spending more than you can afford, even a card that can be stolen or scammed.  So stick to what you need, what you can track and what you can pay off.</p><div><strong>#7 Get out of credit card debt – fast</strong></div><p>Did you know that if you only paid the minimum amount due on your card, it could take you many years to pay it off?  And that’s assuming you stopped using it.  If not, it may take you decades.  </p><p>When you see yourself slipping into credit card debt, try to get out fast.  Here are the signs: cannot pay in full, missed payment date, barely paid the minimum due.  At this point, you can still help yourself.  Approach your credit card for a payment plan, or get a loan with a lower interest rate, pay off your card and then pay off that loan.  It will be cheaper and if you stick to your payments, you will have saved yourself from drowning.</p>

<p>ABSCBN took to X over the weekend and asked its followers for their best credit card hacks.</p>

ABSCBN took to X over the weekend and asked its followers for their best credit card hacks.

7 Credit card hacks to get more value for your money and avoid going into debt

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7 Credit card hacks to get more value for your money and avoid going into debt

Aneth Ng-Lim

Published August 26, 2025 02:11 PM PHT

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credit card hacks

personal finance

Aneth Ng-Lim

personal loan

debt

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