What is the 30 rule on credit cards?
Keeping your credit utilization at no more than 30% can help protect your credit. If your credit card has a $1,000 limit, that means you'll want to have a maximum balance of $300.
This means you should take care not to spend more than 30% of your available credit at any given time. For instance, let's say you had a $5,000 monthly credit limit on your credit card. According to the 30% rule, you'd want to be sure you didn't spend more than $1,500 per month, or 30%.
Add up the balances on all your credit cards. Add up the credit limits on all your cards. Divide the total balance by the total credit limit. Multiply by 100 to see your credit utilization ratio as a percentage.
You should try to spend $90 or less on a credit card with a $300 limit, then pay the bill in full by the due date. The rule of thumb is to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%, and credit utilization is calculated by dividing your statement balance by your credit limit and multiplying by 100.
You should use less than 30% of a $500 credit card limit each month in order to avoid damage to your credit score. Having a balance of $150 or less when your monthly statement closes will show that you are responsible about keeping your credit utilization low.
While a 0% utilization is certainly better than having a high CUR, it's not as good as something in the single digits.
The golden rule of credit card use is to pay your balances in full each month.
Keeping your credit utilization at no more than 30% can help protect your credit. If your credit card has a $1,000 limit, that means you'll want to have a maximum balance of $300.
Not paying your bills on time or using most of your available credit are things that can lower your credit score. Keeping your debt low and making all your minimum payments on time helps raise credit scores. Information can remain on your credit report for seven to 10 years.
If you have a $200 credit limit, keeping your balance below $60 will ensure a credit utilization ratio below 30%, which will help you build good credit when paired with on-time monthly payments.
Should I pay off my credit card in full or leave a small balance?
It's a good idea to pay off your credit card balance in full whenever you're able. Carrying a monthly credit card balance can cost you in interest and increase your credit utilization rate, which is one factor used to calculate your credit scores.
According to Experian™, one of the three main credit bureaus, the average total credit limit across multiple cards was about $30,000 in 2021. In 2022, the average credit limit for the baby boomer generation was about $40,000, while Gen X had about $36,000 in credit limit and millennials had an average of about $30,000.
In general, even if you aren't actively using your credit card and you have a zero balance, it's still a good idea to keep the account open. That's because the credit limit on each card you have counts toward your overall credit utilization ratio.
Going over your credit limit usually does not immediately impact your credit, particularly if you pay down your balance to keep the account in good standing. However, an account that remains over its limit for a period of time could be declared delinquent, and the issuer could close the account.
The date at the end of the billing cycle is your payment due date. By making a credit card payment 15 days before your payment due date—and again three days before—you're able to reduce your balances and show a lower credit utilization ratio before your billing cycle ends.
| Age Group | Good Credit Limit |
|---|---|
| Gen Z (18-24) | $9,000 |
| Millennials (24-39) | $22,000 |
| Gen X (40-55) | $34,000 |
| Baby Boomers (56-74) | $39,000 |
If you've got a $1,000 limit and spend $900 a month on your card, a 90% credit utilization ratio could ding your credit score. If you pay it off as your balance hits $300, or three times a month, your credit score shouldn't be hurt by a high ratio.
To reach an 800 credit score, you'll want to demonstrate on-time bill payments, have a healthy mix of credit (meaning accounts other than just credit cards), use a small percentage of your available credit, and limit new credit inquiries.
What is a good credit utilization ratio? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30%. So, if your only line of credit is a credit card with a $2,000 limit, that would mean keeping your balance below $600.
Adam McCann, Financial Writer
The #1 rule of credit cards is to pay your bills on time and in full each month.
What not to spend on a credit card?
Household Bills/household Items
Going over your credit card limit or missing payments can put you into financial difficulties and cause extra interest charges or late fees. Paying household items on credit cards such as groceries, personal care items or cleaning supplies is also not the best idea.
DON'T reach your credit limit or “max out” your cards. DON'T apply for more credit cards if you already have balances on others. DON'T ignore the warning signs of credit trouble. If you pay only the minimum balance, pay late or use cash-advances to pay daily living expenses, you might be in the credit danger zone.
- Improve your credit score: High limit credit cards typically require good or excellent credit. ...
- Increase your income and reduce your debt: The higher your income is, the better chance you have of getting a new card with a high initial credit limit.
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2022, the average FICO® Score☉ in the U.S. reached 714.
Your credit limit stays the same every month and your balance isn't reduced or wiped clear unless you pay it, but payments you make are deducted from your balance so you then have that amount "available". But you would usually incur interest, so you don't get the full amount of your payment to spend.
