Master Your Credit Card's 45-Day Interest-Free Period

• Credit cards offer an interest-free period of up to 45-50 days, calculated from the billing date, not the transaction date.
• The length of this period depends on when a purchase is made within the billing cycle; early purchases get the longest duration.
• The interest-free benefit is only valid if the *entire* outstanding bill is paid by the due date.
• Failing to pay the full amount results in interest being charged on the *entire* outstanding balance from the original transaction date.
• To use it smartly, cardholders should know their billing dates, pay bills in full, and avoid cash advances, which never have an interest-free period.

Why It Matters: Smartly using credit card interest-free periods can save you money and manage cash flow.