Credit Card Float aka How to Delay the Payment

 Every now and then, my husband and I spend a little more than we should. Usually on travel.  Sometimes on random purchases like a piece of art-more often than not, it's an emergency home repair.  The travel purchases we try to plan for (and usually can).  The art purchases and home repairs are a bit less than planned-and in some cases, completely unplanned.  Ugh.

But, for the purchases we can make that we plan for, we try to play what we like to call the Credit Card Float Game.  Here's what I mean:  If we know that our credit card billing cycle starts on the 5th of the month..and payment for that cycle won't be due until the 2nd of the next-following month...we try to plan big purchases to happen when a new billing cycle starts so we can get the 'float' of making the purchase by holding onto our cash (to pay the credit card bill) until the last day of the upcoming billing cycle.  

We like to do this for two reasons:

1.  We want to keep our actual money in our bank accounts as long as possible.  While checking account interest rates are a total joke these days, we'll at least earn a few pennies more the longer we're able to hold onto the money. If we play the game right, we can get this 'float' for about 7 weeks.  And in these days, every little bit helps!

2.  At this point (for us), there's also a psychological benefit.  We absolutely *hate* having to spend serious $$$ on something (like a home repair) and knowing that our credit card billing cycle is closing in 2, 3, 5 days. To us, we don't get the 'float' that we like-and knowing that we have to 'spend the money' (ie pay the credit card bill) even 'faster' due to the billing cycle closing and credit card payment due date, just does our head in.  If we can plan for the expense (especially the bigger ones), we're just much happier people. :)

Any way, this is the Credit Card Float Game.  The only effort that is required is a little planning (or a little self discipline-take your pick. :)).  But, the resulting good feeling of holding onto our money for longer makes us happy.

What about you?  Are there any little games like this -that just need a little planning or waiting that you like to play to save $$$?  Drop a note in the comments-I'd love to hear from you!