I was afraid of credit cards. Here are 6 things I learned while getting my first one.
Here are 6 things I learned while getting my first credit card.
Madison Hoehn is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ and editor at Bankrate. She joined the Bankrate team in 2024, bringing over six years of editorial expertise to her work. She’s passionate about making every reader feel seen and meeting them where they are in their financial journey.
Prior to her work at Bankrate, Madison wrote and edited content for BestColleges, specializing in alternative education such as coding bootcamps and trade schools. Her experience also took her to Viident Co., an independent publishing company, where she worked alongside authors to finalize their books for publication.
When she’s not editing for Bankrate, she enjoys yoga, trying her hand at new soup recipes, and writing creatively.
Madison obtained her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Miami University.
Being a first-time homeowner, taking out a loan or starting a new credit line can be intimidating. In today's digital world, you may feel like you have a million different opinions telling you how to handle your finances and you may not know how to cut through the noise.
The key to finding confidence in credit card usage is getting back to the basics. Determining what you value most in your life is a sure way to determine which card will work best for you. In a world with advice coming at you from all sides, it’s important you first become an expert on you.
It’s never too late to start learning how to use credit cards the right way. No matter your credit history, you can always start building confidence in your financial decisions today.
— Madison Hoehn, CFEI
1.5 percent cash back may provide more value than 2 percent in these scenarios.
A cash advance is a last-resort option to get money for an emergency.
BankAmeriDeals lets customers earn cash back from certain participating retailers.
Business credit card rewards are considered a rebate on spending and are not taxable.
You can earn plenty of savings through Delta’s SkyMiles program.
Learn about the best Amex App features and how you can use them.
Learn how to redeem your Chase points and all the ways to stretch their value.
Gain protection against damage or theft for items you pay for with your card.
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