spend or not spend on new credit card?

NowRetired

I was supposed to be going to Ireland for a long visit in January so I applied for a credit card with low charges abroad and have been approved.


However, half an hour after it was approved my wife got a letter for a hospital appointment, we never get our mail till about 2 pm. and we will not be going to Ireland in January now.


We will probably go in June.


I have a Capital One cashback credit card which I use for all my spending at home 1% and £10 a year which is better than the credit card I have just applied for, 0.5% cashback but better for using abroad.


I will of course make a test purchase just to check out the PIN etc.


So should I at least buy something every month with my new card, or not, before I go abroad?

Vortigern

I make a small purchase every 6 months on my "foreign travel" cards. It lets the issuer know that the card is still in use, and prevents the DD expiring.

InsideInsurance

I wouldn't (and don't), use my cards for the purpose that I have each of them.

barak

NowRetired wrote: »

.....I will of course make a test purchase just to check out the PIN etc.

So should I at least buy something every month with my new card, or not, before I go abroad?

Certainly no need to use it every month. I would say more like once or twice a year. It might put your mind at rest if you use it a month or so before you go abroad.

CLAPTON

I prefer to use all my cards regularly even those with no or only 0.5% cashback

by doing so I reckon I lose about 50 pence a year in cash back but it gives me some faith that they will function when I actually need them.