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The Daily Insight Hub

Is carrying a large balance on credit card bad?

Author

Sarah Martinez

Updated on January 29, 2026

Carrying a balance is costly In fact, if you get into the habit of paying less than the full amount, you could hurt your credit score if your balance creeps up. Plus, there’s the interest to consider. Rates climb past 20% for some rewards cards, and even low-interest cards exceed 10%.

Should you carry over a balance on a credit card?

In reality, there is absolutely no need for you to carry a balance on a credit card, and it is not a good way to build a strong credit history. Carrying a balance can, in fact, hurt both your credit score and your wallet.

Why might carrying a large balance on a credit card be a bad idea?

Carrying too high a balance could result in a high credit utilization rate, or the percentage of your total credit limit that you’re currently using, which in turn may lower your score. Generally, you should aim for a credit utilization rate of less than 30%.

Is it bad to pay off credit card every day?

If you carry a credit card account balance month to month, making multiple small, frequent payments can reduce your interest charges overall. That’s because interest accrues based on your average daily balance during the billing period. The lower you can keep the balance day by day, the less interest you pay.

What is a normal consequence of carrying a balance on a credit card budget challenge?

What is a normal consequence of carrying a balance on a credit card? The net cost of the purchase will be higher.

Does carrying a balance on credit card hurt credit score?

Carrying a credit card balance will not benefit your credit score, but enrolling in Experian Boost™† has helped many people increase FICO® Scores based on their Experian credit reports, and a free credit score from Experian can help you track progress toward score improvement.

How much does your credit score go up when you pay off a credit card?

If your utilization rate was above 30%, your credit score could jump 10 points or more when you pay off credit card balances completely. On the other hand, if your credit utilization was already fairly low, you might only gain a few points when you pay off credit card debt, even if you pay off the cards entirely.

What are the disadvantages of credit cards?

Perhaps the most obvious drawback of using a credit card is paying interest. Credit cards tend to charge high interest rates, which can drag you deeper and deeper in debt if you’re not careful. The good news: Interest isn’t inevitable. If you pay your balance in full every month, you won’t pay interest at all.

Which is the best credit card to use for a big purchase?

Here are some of the best credit cards for big purchases—whether you’re looking for a lengthy 0 percent intro APR period, top-level rewards or a high-value sign-up bonus.

Which is the best balance transfer credit card?

Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, currently 12.99% to 23.99%. Don’t wait for your Card in the mail. Start earning cash back before your card even arrives, if eligible for Instant Card Number.

Which is the best credit card for cash back?

The Citi Double Cash card tops the Forbes list of the best cash back credit cards, and with good reason. It offers an unbeatable 2% effective cash back rate on all purchases (1% cash back when you make the purchase and 1% more when you pay for those purchases), plus a long-lasting 0% intro APR offer, all without an annual fee. Earn cash back twice.

Which is the best credit card to get for low interest?

Low-interest and 0% credit cards. These cards are best for those who expect to carry debt from month to month. Zero-percent cards offer new cardholders a year or more of 0% interest on purchases, making them suitable for a big expense.