N
The Daily Insight Hub

Is it better to pay off one credit card at a time?

Author

Jackson Reed

Updated on February 07, 2026

When you have multiple credit cards, it’s more effective to focus on paying off one at a time rather than spreading your payments over all of them. You’ll make more progress when you pay a lump sum to one credit card each month.

Is it bad to use one credit card to pay another?

When you’re transferring a balance, you can use one credit card to pay off another. You can’t pay direct monthly payments for one card with another card. It’s possible to take out a cash advance on one credit card to pay off another, but it’s not a good idea.

What will missing one credit card payment do?

Missing a credit card payment can result in fees or increased interest rates — and it can affect your credit scores. If you act quickly, you might be able to lessen the negative effects of a late payment.

Can I make a payment with a credit card?

The short answer is no, at least not in that way. Credit card issuers typically don’t accept credit cards as a regular payment method. Rather, they generally request that you make your payment using your checking or savings account, or with cash or check at a local branch, ATM, over the phone or by mail.

Is it good idea to pay rent with credit card?

One instance when paying rent with a credit card could be a good idea is if it will help you to avoid taking out a title or payday loan. Short-term loans like these can trap you in a cycle of debt that can take months or even year to get out from under.

Is it better to pay off your credit card or keep a balance?

However, carrying a balance will cost more in the long term. Paying off your credit card balance each month will offer some handy benefits. For starters, paying off your credit card in full could give you access to a grace period. A grace period is the timeframe after you make a purchase before your issuer charges interest on that purchase.

Do you get charged interest when you pay off your credit card?

When you pay off your card completely with each billing cycle, you never get charged interest. That said, it you do have to carry a balance from month to month, paying early can reduce your interest cost. That’s because the interest you’re charged is based on your average daily balance.

Can you pay more than the minimum balance on a credit card?

Yes, they can be different. So long as you pay the minimum balance each month, it’s your choice how much extra you want to pay. Remember: interest is always accruing on your principal balance. So paying any amount more than the monthly minimum can lower the cost of your credit card debt.