Credit & Debt

Credit Cards

A credit card is revolving credit that lets you borrow up to a limit and repay the balance over time.

4 min

Credit 101 • 03

A credit card is a revolving form of credit.

You can make purchases up to the available limit, repay the balance and use the available credit again.

Each purchase adds to the balance you owe.

Payments reduce that balance and restore available credit.

A credit card has several important terms.

01Credit limit02Interest rate03Billing period04Payment due date05Minimum payment06Fees

Credit card and debit card are different.

01

Debit card

Usually spends money from your bank account.

02

Credit card

Uses borrowed money from the card issuer.

The limit is not money you own.

Credit limit$5,000
Purchases$1,200
Balance owed$1,200
Available credit$3,800

Using a credit card does not automatically mean paying interest.

Purchase interest can often be avoided by paying the balance in full by the due date under the card’s grace-period rules.

Use a card with the key dates in mind.

01Statement date02Payment due date03Minimum payment04Full statement balance

Remember this

A credit card is a borrowing tool, not extra income.

Every charge creates a balance that eventually has to be repaid.

Lesson complete

Reviewed 2026-08-18

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