What credit cards to pay first?

Question

I have 3 credit cards:

A) This credit card is pretty much maxed out with a limit of $400

B) This card has a limit of $2,000, and I owe $1,500

C) This card has a limit of $500, and I owe about $350

I've stopped using my cards and I pay more than the minimum every month...I usually try to at least add on the finance charge to the minimum.

I'm in good standing on all of my cards and have pretty fair credit for a 20 y/o. I would like to get my balances down and paid off.

What card should I pay extra on? The one that is close to the limit of $400, the one which is over $1000, or the one that only has about $350 owed?

I hope this makes sense and I hope you guys can help. Thanks!

Also, I am a student so a lot of my time goes towards school..I have a part time job but I don't make a lot and whenever I get extra money I put it on my cards.

So even though the card with the highest balance, has the lowest interest rate, I should worry about that one last?

Thanks :)

Answer 1

I would pay off the one with the highest interest rate first.

Answer 2

Depending on your credit rating, if you are a responsible borrower, you can balance transfer your 3 cards to a 0% interest card for as long as 15 months. I would look into that first, if you can't, then I would pay the highest interest rate card next.

You can find a 0% interest credit card at http://www.cardrewards.net

Answer 3

There are two schools of thought on paying off credit cards:
1. Pay as much as you can to the card with the highest interest first, with minimum amount due to the rest.
2. Pay as much as you can to the card the lowest balance first, with minimum amount due to the rest.

The first option reduces how much interest you will pay overall. The second option gives the great boost of getting rid of a bill faster. Unless there is a wide spread on the interest rates, the second option is more attractive to me.

Answer 4

You should always pay the most to the card with the highest interest rate. If there is no annual fee, and you can control yourself then keep them open once they are paid off. The open credit and payment history will help your credit score. If you have an annual fee then I say close them. Don't close them until they are paid though.

Answer 5

If they have different interest rates, pay off the one with the highest rate first - put as much extra on it as you can each month while just making minimum payments on the others, then when that's paid off, work on the second-highest one the same way. The interest rate should be shown on your statements.

Answer 6

With only three cards, it should be fairly painless to pay them off. Trust me, I've had nine going at one time, and I'm now debt free! Start with the smallest balance, in your case (C), double the payments on that, while maintaining minimum payments on (A) and (B). Once C is payed off, do the same with A. After that is paid off, you should be able to triple your payments until B is at a zero balance. Then close them, and cut them up, and only use your debit card or cash to buy things!!!

Answer 7

You should work to pay off the credit card with the highest interest charge first and then work your way from there.

Answer 8

Roll them all over into a new credit card that will offer you low interest on balances transferred for 6 months. Then pay it off as fast as you can. so long as you dont have to pay and application fee then you will be saving all that interest. Lots of banks offer this these days. if not then bargin for it.they want your business.

Answer 9

The one's with the highest interest rate need to be paid off first, one at a time.

Good luck!

Answer 10

pay the one you owe the most on CC's work on intrest rates of your balance ie the more you owe this month the more intrest they hit you with on your next bill