4 Money Rules To Break

Some long-standing financial ‘truisms’ are total bunk. Feel free to rebel against these…

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RULE 1

Credit cards are evil

Nope. A little plastic can go a long way towards establishing a good credit score, something you will need to buy a car, a house and even some phone plans. When you skip getting a card, lenders have fewer ways to confirm you’ll pay your bills on time. Worried about sinking into debt? Start small. Keep your balance low, or use your card only a few times a year to build up a charge history. Pick a card with no annual fees and opt for a rewards one (they have higher interest rates and lots of fine print) only if you can pay off the balance each month, says Beverly Harzog, author of The Debt Escape Plan.

RULE 2

Buying always beats renting