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Why is paying only the minimum payment on a credit card so bad?

Author

Jackson Reed

Updated on February 12, 2026

Offering only the minimum payment keeps you in debt longer and racks up interest charges. It can also put your credit score at risk. Making only the minimum payment on your credit card keeps your account in good standing and avoids late fees, but that’s about all it does.

Is making minimum credit card payments bad?

By itself, a minimum payment won’t hurt your credit score, because you’re not missing a payment. Nonetheless, experts strongly suggest making more than the minimum payment each month to avoid digging yourself into a financial hole.

What happens when you pay minimum amount of credit card?

Risk of paying the minimum amount The interest is charged from the date of the purchase, and not the end of the billing cycle. Hence, every time you pay only the minimum balance you incur interest charge on that amount from day one and effectively lose out on the benefit of the credit-free period.

Does credit limit reset after minimum payment?

Yes, your credit limit resets after payment if you follow a few rules. In order for your credit limit to fully bounce back to the original amount you are allowed to borrow, you have to pay your total balance (what you spent during your current billing cycle).

Why do I have to make minimum payments on my credit card?

Consequently, making credit card minimum payments can keep the credit card account in good standing, but this is usually an expensive way to manage the account. Why? Because the balance at the end of every month will accrue interest, making it even more difficult to pay off your balance. 2. You Pay off Your Credit Card Balances Faster

What happens if you miss a payment on a credit card?

Your minimum payment is the amount that you’re required to pay by your due date in order to keep your account current and in good standing. If you pay less than the minimum or miss a payment, you can hurt your credit score.

Is it bad to have a minimum credit card balance?

Most credit cards carry double-digit interest rates, so if you’re carrying a balance, these charges are getting tacked onto your minimum every month. Although it probably won’t pinch too much initially, over the course of several billing cycles your minimum could get very high.

Do you have to pay minimum amount with MasterCard?

A Merchant must not require, or indicate that it requires, a minimum or maximum Transaction amount to accept a valid and properly presented Mastercard or Maestro Card. It’s not just card networks that clearly state that merchants should not be asking customers to spend a certain amount for card payments.