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Credit cards offer you the opportunity to earn rewards, save money, and get perks like airport lounge access and streaming service credits. But the downside is that credit cards have outrageously high interest rates. The average rate on credit card accounts assessing interest is 23.37%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED).

With rates that high, you might be avoiding credit cards. While I understand that caution, let me tell you — there are ways to carefully use the best credit cards and avoid interest forever. Here are my top four.

1. Pay in full every month

Most people misunderstand how credit cards work. To be clear, you only pay interest on purchases when you carry a balance into your next billing cycle. In other words, if you pay your balance off each month, you won’t pay credit card interest.

Let’s say you have a credit card with a 23% annual interest rate (APR) and a balance of $1,000. If you only make a minimum payment of $50 instead of paying your card in full, the 23% APR will be applied to the unpaid balance. This interest will continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full.

The trick here is to spend only what you can afford to pay back. This can be easier said than done, since your card’s credit limits can make it feel like you have more purchasing power than you do.

If you need help managing, consider getting a budgeting app. These apps can help you synchronize credit cards with bank accounts to help you visualize how much you owe vs. how much cash you have to spend.

2. Use a 0% intro APR credit card for large purchases

If you’re expecting to make a big purchase — one that could take some time to pay off — consider getting a 0% intro APR credit card.

This type of card gives you a 0% APR introductory period for a certain period of time. You’ll still need to make minimum payments, but carrying a balance within the zero-interest period doesn’t accrue interest.

That said, the zero-interest period will end. When it does, the credit card’s APR will increase to a regular rate, and you’ll start accruing interest for unpaid balances. To steer clear of interest charges, make sure your balance is paid in full before the introductory period ends.

Expecting to make a large purchase soon? Click here to check out our favorite 0% intro APR credit cards, with introductory periods lasting as long as 21 months!

3. Avoid getting blindsided by surprise expenses with an emergency fund

Contrary to popular belief, credit card debt isn’t always about frivolous overspending. Often, unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs can quickly tip the scales.

One way to prepare yourself for life’s surprises is to build an emergency fund. Most financial experts recommend keeping three to six months of expenses in an accessible account, like a high-yield savings account. While emergency funds can take time to build, it can give you a safety net for when disaster strikes — keeping you from relying on credit cards.

If you have an emergency fund but it’s not earning you much interest, check out these top high-yield savings accounts with APYs up to 5.00%.

4. Get out of debt with a balance transfer credit card

Finally, if you’re currently in credit card debt, you can lift yourself out forever by using a balance transfer credit card.

Many balance transfer credit cards offer a 0% intro APR on balance transfers. Once you open an account, you can transfer debt from another credit card to benefit from the zero-interest period. To be sure, these cards do charge a balance transfer fee of 3% to 5%. But the fee could be small compared to what you’re paying in credit card interest.

If you’re trying to get out of debt, check out our full list of best balance transfer credit cards.

Ultimately, credit card interest doesn’t have to take away the benefits of using rewards or cash back credit cards. By staying on top of your balances — and using intro 0% APR offers strategically — you can avoid credit card debt and get the full value of your credit card rewards.

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