Credit cards do more than provide you with extra purchasing power. Actually, credit cards can do quite a bit to make your life easier. Credit cards add convenience to your life by helping you establish credit and simplify your bill payments. In fact, credit cards can even protect you in the event that you are a victim of theft! Finally, credit cards are excellent to have when you run into one of life's many emergency situations!

If you are getting credit cards for the first time ever, one of the obvious benefits of owning such cards is that you will be able to establish a credit rating. Further, by establishing a good credit rating over time, you will later be able to make larger purchases with your well-earned credit, like automobiles and homes. Finally, a well-established credit rating can help you rent cars and apartments, and sometimes help you get employment that may require a credit check.

Alternatively, paying bills or even making purchases on the Internet require the use of a credit card. Unlike bank debit cards where you must have money in your checking account to pay your bills, credit cards allow you to pay your bills with your predetermined credit limit. Therefore, if you are a little short on cash during the month, you can still successfully make online billing transactions with the use of your credit cards.

Did you know that credit cards can help you afford the larger purchases that you might not necessarily expect? Perhaps you are a college student and you need to purchase your books for your upcoming semester. Imagine going to the book store and finding out that your book bill is far more than you had planned for. Nevertheless, you require the texts for the upcoming classes you are enrolled in. With a credit card, you can successfully pay for your books all at once and pay off the balance later in the month or in several monthly increments.

Did you know that having a credit card can actually save you money? For example, if you were supplied with a credit card with a $500.00 limit and you made $500.00 worth of purchases, as long as you paid off the entire bill before interest is applied, you have basically afforded yourself an interest free loan! Conversely, if you borrow money from a bank, interest is applied immediately and you are required to pay the interest first, then the principle.

Another benefit derived from having credit cards is that you can carry less cash with you. Thus, if you are ever the victim of theft, you will not lose as much cash as an individual that does not carry credit cards. What's more, if your credit cards are stolen, unlike cash, you can immediately place a call to the issuing company of your cards and have them issue new ones.

Finally, credit cards can keep you prepared for life's little emergencies. Imagine that you are on your way home from vacationing out-of-state. While driving home your car breaks down and you have to call a tow truck to have it brought to the nearest garage and repaired. Now imagine not having enough cash to have a tow truck come and retrieve your car; what would you do? By having one or more credit cards handy, you can make your life easier because you will be prepared for anything, including the tow truck fees!

In short, the many benefits derived from owning credit cards only make your life easier. Credit cards can give you the extra buying power that you require and can help you establish a credit rating that will increase your buying power in the future. Further, credit cards can help you take a proactive role in protecting your money by allowing you to have less cash-on-hand. Finally, credit cards can help you afford unexpected expenditures with relative ease and thereby give you peace of mind!