Apply What You’ve Learned - Managing Credit Cards and ConsumerLoans
Scenario: You are 30 years old, married, have two children, and household income (take-home pay) of$3,500 per month. Your credit and consumer debt is as follows:_______.
• Car loan, 6% interest rate, $10,000 balance, $295 per month
• Department store card, 28% interest rate, $600 balance, minimum payment 5% of balance
• Discover Card, 12% interest rate, $2,000 balance, minimum payment 2% of balance
• VISA Card, 13% interest rate, $3,000 balance, minimum payment 2% of balance
• MasterCard 1, 14% interest rate, $4,000 balance, minimum payment 2% of balance
• MasterCard 2, 14% interest rate, $0 balance, minimum payment 2% of balance
• Gasoline card, 21% interest rate, $300 balance, minimum payment 5% of balance
Assume all credit cards will assess a $35 late fee and ongoing penalty interest of 8% above the currentrate if you miss a payment. Your recent VISA card statement came with a blank cash advance check(for up to $10,000) with terms of 23.99% APR and a fee of 3% if you use it. Your recent MasterCard 2statement came with a balance transfer oFer (up to $4,000) with no fee and 0% APR for 12 months,after which the normal interest rate applies. You recently found an incorrect amount charged on yourVISA card from a store you frequent often. You’d like to come up with a plan to eliminate all of yourcredit card debt.
In general, is it a good idea to make only minimum payments on your credit cards?
Yes, you can invest the money saved each month to earn interest.
No, it will cause your interest rate to go up.
No, the small payment requirement is mathematically guaranteed to keep you in debt for manyyears.
Yes, this allows you more ±exibility in your cash budget.
Assuming you have $1,500 in your budget this month with which to pay down your credit cards, howmuch should you pay on each card?
CardInterestrateOutstandingRequired minimumRecommendedbalancepayment(%)payment($)debtrepaymentamount
store card
Discover Card12%2,0008%
VISA Card13%3,00010%
MasterCard 114%4,0008%
MasterCard 214%010%
Gasoline card21%30015%
Total$9,900$1,500
