Meet Maria (not her real name), a thirtysomething professional who discovered the power of credit cards two years into her full-time career. Now, she rarely touches cash and flies around the region largely on points. Here's her story.
For Maria, getting her first credit card wasn't about emergencies or building credit. It was pure FOMO.
"I was working in Singapore, and everyone in my office had a credit card," she recalls. "They'd constantly talk about the rebates and miles they were racking up. Free business class flights. Massive grocery discounts. All thanks to their credit cards."
Meanwhile, Maria was using her debit card for everything, earning exactly zero rewards. That realization changed everything.
The Mindset Shift That Changed Her Finances
Two years after starting her full-time job, Maria finally applied for her first credit card. Looking back, she has one major regret: not doing it sooner.
"It completely changed my money mindset," she says. "Now I believe you should charge everything to your credit card. Using cash or debit feels like wasting money, you could've used that same cash to pay off your credit card and gotten rewards in return."
Her logic is simple: Cash and debit cards give you nothing. Credit cards offer cash back, rewards, miles, and an improved credit score. They also offer better fraud protection; if something goes wrong, you have time to dispute charges before your actual money leaves your account.
The results speak for themselves. Since getting that first card, Maria has paid for 80% of her flights using miles converted from credit card points.
Her Everyday Strategy: Charge Everything
Maria's approach might sound extreme, but it's deliberate. She charges everything to her credit card. Yes, even her morning coffee.
"Everything," she emphasizes. "If I can pay with a credit card, I do."
But here's the crucial part: she doesn't let balances pile up. For big purchases, she pays off the balance immediately so she doesn't accidentally spend that money elsewhere. And for everything else, she pays the full statement balance before the due date every single month.
"Always pay your credit card bill on time," she stresses. "Not only do you avoid interest rates, but it's the easiest way to keep your credit score in check."
The Rookie Mistake That Cost Her
Even Maria had to learn some lessons the hard way.
When she got her first credit card, she misunderstood how payments worked. She thought the "minimum amount due" was all she needed to pay each month. Spoiler alert: it wasn't.
"It turns out I needed to pay the entire balance before the deadline," she admits. "So I got charged interest because I only paid the minimum."
It's a common mistake, but an expensive one. The lesson stuck: always pay your full balance, not just the minimum.
Key Takeaway: Always pay your full credit card balance, not just the minimum payment. Only paying the minimum means you'll be charged interest and will take much longer to pay off your debt.
Busting Credit Card Myths
Maria has strong opinions about the myths that keep people from using credit cards strategically.
Myth #1: "Credit cards will make me spend more."
Her take: "That's a you problem, not a credit card problem. Credit cards make your money work for you, while your debit card does nothing. You're better off making money than fearing you'll spend more."
Myth #2: "Credit cards get hacked more."
Actually, the opposite is true, she argues. With credit cards, you have time to dispute fraudulent charges before your money is gone. With cash, bank transfers, or debit cards, once that money leaves your hands, it's gone forever.
How to Choose Your First Card
For anyone in their 20s or 30s considering their first credit card, Maria has clear advice: do your homework.
"Before applying, compare all the rewards from different brands and programs because they all offer different things," she says. "Find the one that works best for you."
She chose UnionBank Miles+ because it offered the most miles per peso for her spending habits. But another UnionBank card offered half the miles per peso overall, yet double the miles on groceries. Understanding your spending patterns is key.
When card-hunting, Maria focuses on three things:
- Rewards — Do I actually shop or fly with these partner brands?
- Fees — Are there zero-fee alternatives?
- Minimum spend — Am I required to spend a certain amount monthly?
Resources like nerdcash.ph can help compare different cards side by side.
The Unexpected Perk She Didn't See Coming
Beyond the miles and cashback, Maria's credit card has given her something else: conversation starters.
"I once noticed I had the same credit card as a hot guy while we both waited in line to pay at a restaurant," she laughs. "It was a great icebreaker. We're still friends to this day!"
Her Best Piece of Advice
If Maria could go back in time, there's one thing she'd tell her younger self: choose a credit card that's easy to pay.
"My first card wasn't linked to any of my bank accounts, so I had to pay my bill every month manually," she explains. "Make it easy on yourself from the start."
For Maria, credit cards aren't just financial tools. They're investments. "My money works for me one way or another every time I spend it," she says.
Maria's Success Story:
Two years into her career, she took a chance on her first credit card. Now, she's flying around the region on points, building her credit score, and making every peso count.
It may be time you did, too.
Ready to find your perfect credit card match? Compare the best cards in the Philippines at NerdCash.ph , updated monthly with clear, jargon-free comparisons.