# Should you get a credit card? **URL:** \ **Category:** News & Updates\ **Created:** [18 April 2019 11:17 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274 "2019-04-18T11:17:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bea](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/bea/32/29111_2.png) [@bea](https://community.monzo.com/u/bea)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 11:17 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/1 "2019-04-18T11:17:52Z")
If you have a credit card, what do you find it useful for? And what do you to do manage yours successfully? > **[Should I get a credit card?](https://monzo.com/blog/2019/04/17/shoud-i-get-a-credit-card/)** > > Credit cards can be useful for borrowing small amounts for a short time. But do you really need one? Consider the pros and cons of credit cards, and get tips for managing yours successfully. ---
**Author:** ![nexusmaniac](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/nexusmaniac/32/3193_2.png) [@nexusmaniac](https://community.monzo.com/u/nexusmaniac)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 11:18 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/2 "2019-04-18T11:18:53Z")
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for a while! 😛 I look forward to reading this 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![tbutz](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/tbutz/32/95851_2.png) [@tbutz](https://community.monzo.com/u/tbutz)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 11:27 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/3 "2019-04-18T11:27:54Z")
I tend to use my Barclaycard for big purchases, but I’m very twitchy about debt (having been in some serious debt in my youth) so immediately pay it off in full. It’s more for the payment protection than anything else. This is where having the balance available in-app is incredibly useful, as I can then see what I need to have available to pay off the bill. I mean, I can use the app to check this, but I’m in Monzo _constantly_, so it’s much more handy there. ---
**Author:** ![kennygrant](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/kennygrant/32/65922_2.png) [@kennygrant](https://community.monzo.com/u/kennygrant)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 11:36 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/4 "2019-04-18T11:36:49Z")
Payment protection on large purchases. ---
**Author:** ![anon77964053](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon77964053](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon77964053)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 11:48 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/5 "2019-04-18T11:48:11Z")
I guess the question here is… is monzo thinking of offering credit cards? This field of finance doesn’t see the love I think monzo could give, so I think it’d be awesome if monzo offered that! Maybe a transparent, flexible credit card that’s available for people with big credit history as well as people with no credit history. As a foreigner to the UK, I can say that getting a credit card here (I found myself needing it to be able to rent a car) is a nightmare if you don’t have decent credit history ---
**Author:** ![aCCount](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/account/32/59481_2.png) [@aCCount](https://community.monzo.com/u/aCCount)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 12:02 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/6 "2019-04-18T12:02:29Z")
All these benefits and yet Monzo don’t offer one 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![gmclean](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/gmclean/32/47932_2.png) [@gmclean](https://community.monzo.com/u/gmclean)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 12:02 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/7 "2019-04-18T12:02:46Z")
Exactly this. Just booked flights for our holiday on my Barclaycard. ---
**Author:** ![o99](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/o99/32/83033_2.png) [@o99](https://community.monzo.com/u/o99)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 12:13 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/8 "2019-04-18T12:13:54Z")
> [@bea](#): > > If you have a credit card, what do you find it useful for? And what do you to do manage yours successfully? A few reasons 1. Section 75 protection on larger purchases (\> £100). 2. Hotel and car rental bookings even if less than £100 (so I am not inconvenienced by pre-authorisations). 3. Spreading annual expenses (e.g. car insurance, home insurance, car servicing) over 12 months at 0% interest. Purchases relating to #1 & #2 are done on my regular credit card and paid off immediately, so I never pay interest. I use a separate long-term (multi-month) 0% credit card for #3. This card gets replaced every 2-3 years when the interest free period ends. I don’t spend anything on my credit cards that I couldn’t pay for with other means (income or savings) but use them for the benefits mentioned above. Credit cards are very useful tools as long as you are disciplined in your use of money. If you are not, they are dangerous. I’ve recently been trying the whole rewards thing using Amex where you put all the spending you would do anyway on the card to accumulate as many reward points as possible. However, I don’t think I’m going to stick with this for the following reasons: 1. I find it frustrating that Amex is not universally accepted and acceptance is particularly bad at independent stores. 2. I miss the spending tracking and rich transaction information that I get when using Monzo for most of my spending. ---
**Author:** ![Waler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@Waler](https://community.monzo.com/u/Waler)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 12:18 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/9 "2019-04-18T12:18:03Z")
I usually put things I can expense at work on my credit card for two reasons - A. Cashback, which is nice B. Because it could be a little while until my expense goes through and I don’t want to / can’t pay for the thing myself that instant (like a work-trip that includes a hotel). Always pay the card in full. For personal payments I use my Monzo card, because that make managing my money easier (left to spend in summery is amazing). ---
**Author:** ![trevwmitchell](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/trevwmitchell/32/16714_2.png) [@trevwmitchell](https://community.monzo.com/u/trevwmitchell)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 12:58 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/10 "2019-04-18T12:58:55Z")
Hi guys, the following credit card is bangin, it’s very much the monzo experience but as a credit card, I already had the card and love it… It’s now my main credit card. I’m one of the first to use Jaja, the next generation credit card. Discover more and get early access here [https://www.jaja.co.uk](https://www.jaja.co.uk) ---
**Author:** ![trevwmitchell](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/trevwmitchell/32/16714_2.png) [@trevwmitchell](https://community.monzo.com/u/trevwmitchell)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 12:59 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/11 "2019-04-18T12:59:17Z")
> **[The Next Generation Credit Card - Jaja](https://jaja.co.uk/)** > > A brilliantly simple credit card that's fast, easy to use, intelligent, packed full of amazing features and it’s fair. Join the mobile first credit card built around you, for iOS and Android. ---
**Author:** ![NeilM](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/neilm/32/35614_2.png) [@NeilM](https://community.monzo.com/u/NeilM)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 13:01 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/12 "2019-04-18T13:01:18Z")
I thought JAJA was having serious issues on-boarding people ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@FlyingDutchman](https://community.monzo.com/u/FlyingDutchman)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 13:01 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/13 "2019-04-18T13:01:37Z")
Worth pointing out that Jaja is still in beta (?) and they’re still working through the waiting list seemingly. ---
**Author:** ![kris1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kris1](https://community.monzo.com/u/kris1)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 13:15 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/14 "2019-04-18T13:15:21Z")
I had a sub 500 credit rating this time last year so decided to get two or three credit cards, max them out and pay in full every month. I then managed to get an Amex and have managed to build my score to 900+ so for credit building I’d definitely recommend credit cards. I still put my day to day spending on my credit cards too so that I can continue to build a good history. ---
**Author:** ![trevwmitchell](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/trevwmitchell/32/16714_2.png) [@trevwmitchell](https://community.monzo.com/u/trevwmitchell)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 13:49 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/15 "2019-04-18T13:49:36Z")
I guess there is also the tymit card that has yet to be launched . > **[A better kind of credit card | Tymit](https://tymit.co.uk?utm_source=referral_link&utm_medium=referral_link&utm_campaign=waitlist_engagement_referral_01&utm_content=welcome_email_bottom_link&ref_code=8e4pFgRv)** > > Tired of your old fashioned credit card? Tymit is fast, simple, transparent, and always fair, with best-in-class fraud protection. Instant notifications, custom payment plans, free payments abroad, interest free periods you control with no fees and... ---
**Author:** ![anon77964053](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon77964053](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon77964053)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 15:01 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/16 "2019-04-18T15:01:15Z")
I do exactly this. I have no credit history and I’m now in the process of just using credit cards every day and then paying them off in full ---
**Author:** ![PaulUK](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/pauluk/32/57221_2.png) [@PaulUK](https://community.monzo.com/u/PaulUK)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 17:08 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/17 "2019-04-18T17:08:41Z")
Use mine only for credit history now. Previously used for _stoozing_, when there were enough accounts out there to make it worth while! ---
**Author:** ![anon47498122](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@anon47498122](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon47498122)\ **Post date:** [18 April 2019 17:43 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/18 "2019-04-18T17:43:16Z")
Apart from my BA branded Amex card which is useful for booking flights and getting Avios points, I only ever use interest free cards. Currently using a Virgin Money card with 28 months interest free and when the period ends I’ll dump it and get another, assuming that providers are still knocking out long interest free period cards. Never paid a penny in interest. As for new ‘fintech’ credit cards, well if none of them at present are going to offer lengthy interest free periods, then I’m not personally interested. I absolutely love instant notifications and Amex offer me that. Sadly Virgin credit card doesn’t, but I live with it because the interest free period is what I wanted the card for in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![TCMilkybarkid](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/tcmilkybarkid/32/24167_2.png) [@TCMilkybarkid](https://community.monzo.com/u/TCMilkybarkid)\ **Post date:** [20 April 2019 12:29 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/19 "2019-04-20T12:29:10Z")
The biggest thing for me is the protection that a credit card provides. I managed to recover £1200 through section 75 after the airline (Primera) went bust last year, if I’d made the same transaction on my debit card I’d still be chasing administrators for refund. The other thing is the improvements I made on my credit score by using a credit card. My parents advised me never to use a credit card and at 25 I struggled to get basic credit (for phone contracts, 0% on furniture purchase). Now my credit score is great. Other than large purchases my credit card goes unused. ---
**Author:** ![hi\_friend](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/hi_friend/32/113173_2.png) [@hi\_friend](https://community.monzo.com/u/hi_friend)\ **Post date:** [20 April 2019 12:45 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274/20 "2019-04-20T12:45:35Z")
I use my credit card for fuel purchases and items that are going to be expensed! I find it easier to track what I need to claim for when I only have to look at the credit card statement. It’s also a safety net for emergencies such as large car repair bills etc. [Next page](https://community.monzo.com/t/should-you-get-a-credit-card/65274.md?page=2)