Most people use credit cards completely wrong.
That’s according to Jeff J Hunter, one of my mentors. I already agree to that. He broke down a credit card strategy that you can do now.
I have a credit card for more than a decade now (for the longest time, I only had one credit card). My goal for a start was to pay online tools that I was using. 6 or 7 years ago, I got another credit card, but I missed a payment, so I surrendered it, fearing that I would not be able to keep up with two credit cards. It’s only in 2025 when I tried applying for credit cards again. I was approved for two credit cards – one for online tools and one to be used as cash alternative.
I never consider credit cards as additional cash (and you should, too!). However, I learned additional tips from Jeff when he published his credit card strategy post on Facebook.
I am publishing the full credit card strategy here. Since he is recommending American credit cards, please do your due diligence in researching for the best credit card for you. I am also sharing my Unionbank credit card referral code below for your consideration.
How This Actually Works
So you understand how this works.
You STOP using your debit card or cash.
You START using this credit card SAME AS CASH.
And you PAY OFF the balance BEFORE the 30 days it’s due.
You never get charged interest, you use your cash to repay credit card for things you would pay cash for.
You do NOT use the credit card for credit that’s where people get spiraled out of control.
Why Most People Fail at This
Wrong: Treating credit cards like extra money
Right: Treating credit cards like a cash management toolThe mistake people make is thinking credit cards give them more spending power.
They don’t.
They give you better cash flow management and rewards.
If you can’t afford it with cash, you can’t afford it with a credit card.
The Credit Card Strategy
Every expense goes on the card:
– Groceries and gas
– Subscriptions and bills
– Shopping and dining
– Travel expenses
– Everything you’d normally pay cash for
You earn points or cashback on every dollar you were spending anyway.
Pay it off before the due date using the cash you already budgeted.
Zero interest paid. Maximum rewards earned.
The Cash Flow Advantage
Credit cards give you 30 days of float time.
That means:
– Your cash stays in your account longer
– You can use that cash for opportunities that come up
– You’re essentially getting a free 30-day loan on every purchase
But only if you pay it off before interest kicks in.
Building Credit the Right Way
Using credit cards properly builds your credit score.
This matters when you need:
– Car loans
– Mortgages
– Better credit limits
– Lower interest rates on anything
Pay on time, keep utilization low, and your credit score climbs.
The Rewards Game Changes Everything
According to Jeff, he earns thousands in rewards annually on spending he was doing.
Those rewards go back into:
– Travel
– Shopping
– Bills
– Cash back
It’s free money if you’re disciplined about paying it off.
The One Rule That Matters
If you can’t pay it off in full before the due date, you shouldn’t be charging it. Period.
Credit card debt destroys finances faster than almost anything else.
The moment you start carrying a balance, you’re losing money on interest instead of earning rewards.
Bottom Line: Credit cards are tools, not money. Use them like cash with benefits.Pay them off before interest hits.
The people who master this earn thousands in rewards while building credit.
The ones who don’t end up paying thousands in interest and destroying their finances.
BONUS: Credit Card Hacks Most People Don’t Know About
1. Request a credit limit increase every 6-12 months.
This lowers your credit utilization ratio even if your spending stays the same.
Lower utilization = higher credit score.
Just make sure they do a SOFT pull, not a hard inquiry.
2. Call and ask your card issuer to waive the annual fee.
Many will do it to keep you as a customer, especially if your account is in good standing.
Worst case: they say no. Best case: you save from PHP 2,500.00 to PHP 5,000.00
3. Use authorized users strategically.
Add family members as authorized users on your oldest card with the best payment history.
Their credit score can benefit from your good habits.
Plus some cards let you pool points with authorized users.
4. Make mid-cycle payments to lower your reported balance.
Card issuers report your balance to credit bureaus at random times during the month.
If you pay down your balance mid-cycle, the reported utilization is lower.
Lower reported balance = better credit score.
5. Rotate cards based on category bonuses.
Use the card that earns the most for each purchase:
– Activate SPECIAL OFFERS
– Use the credit card that can give you double or triple points in travel expenses
– Use the credit card that can give you gift certificates (GCs) on groceries
6. Most people use one card for everything and leave money on the table.
Product change instead of canceling.
If a card’s annual fee is no longer worth it, ask to downgrade to a no-fee version.
This keeps your credit history intact and avoids hurting your score from closing an account.
I hope you learned a lot from this credit card strategy, because I did!
As mentioned, ALWAYS do your due diligence when researching for the best credit card for you. If you’re considering Unionbank as your credit card, here is my referral code: UBNOW-P0235938.
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