While credit cards can be used as an emergency fund alternative, it should not be the go-to option. Having a plan to pay off the credit card afterward is crucial.

Say you have a credit card bill of $1,500 with an APR of 20%. Pay off $500, rather than the full balance, and the remaining $1,000 will cost you about $17 in interest for a month.

By contrast, when you use credit cards as your emergency fund, the money you spend becomes credit card debt that you'll eventually have to repay. Your "present self" is borrowing money from your ...

To get the most out of an emergency credit card, use it only for purchases you have to make and have a plan in place ahead of time to pay down the charges. Here are some tips to keep in mind ...

If you're one of them, be aware there are at least five good reasons you shouldn't use your credit card as an emergency fund. Take a look: 1. The interest rate is sky high ...

Have a designated emergency credit card: Consider keeping one credit card reserved specifically for emergencies to avoid accidentally using it for non-urgent purchases. Understand your card's ...

What is the best emergency credit card to have? I had a card, but it's closed. I don't use credit at all right now. I was told that I needed to have one for emergencies. - Greg Dear Greg, A credit ...

Strategic credit card use could help you navigate an emergency, like a sudden expense that you can’t easily afford. To be sure, credit cards come with their costs, risks and limitations.

Having a large emergency fund tends to become more important with age, according to Bankrate’s findings. When comparing the 46 percent of young Millennials that have credit card debt to those ...

While credit cards can be used as an emergency fund alternative, it should not be the go-to option. Having a plan to pay off the credit card afterward is crucial.

There are a host of credit cards that offer a 0 percent APR for promotional periods, and they’re perfect cards to use in this instance. 2. Don’t apply for multiple credit cards ...