Week 14: Why I Closed My Credit Card

After a lot of contemplation, I finally decided to close my credit card this week.

I’ve never paid a late fee—not even once. And yes, I enjoyed the reward points. But over time, I noticed something off. I was using those points mostly on Amazon, which pushed me to buy things I didn’t actually need—just to “use up” the points.

Based on my regular usage and on-time repayments, the bank kept increasing my credit limit. At first, it felt like a reward. But as the number kept growing, it started to scare me. I saw how easily it could become a trap.

Credit cards gave me the illusion of freedom. I started spending more, thinking, “It’s okay, I’ll repay once my salary comes.” Month after month, I found myself spending nearly the entire credit limit, only to use my salary to clear the dues. Think about that—I wasn’t even paying myself first. I was handing over my hard-earned money to the bank the moment it arrived. That’s not freedom. That’s a cycle.

This mindset is dangerous—it’s like relying on a future version of yourself to clean up the mess your present self is making.

So, after discussing with my wife, we decided to close the card and stick to spending only what we actually have. I still hold one more credit card—but we’ve agreed to keep it strictly for medical emergencies. No more casual swipes.