The difference between cash and credit

Cash? Credit? Either way the thing you want gets paid for right, so what does it matter?

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Well, if you’re yet to turn 18 the choice is easier – most banks won’t offer credit to anyone under 18. This doesn’t stop you borrowing from your grown-ups or your annoying little brother who always saves his money instead of spending it – but that’s a bit different.

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If you are over 18, you may be able to choose between cash and credit. Before you make any decisions, here are a few things you should know.

1. The key difference between cash and credit is that one is your money (cash) and one is the bank’s (or someone else’s) money (credit).
2. When you pay with cash, you hand over the money, take your goods and you are done. Which is great, as long as you have the money.
3. When you pay with credit, you borrow money from someone else to pay. Usually this money does not come for free. Yes, you need to pay back the money you borrowed, but there is also usually an additional amount you have to pay back – this is called interest.
4. Interest is usually expressed as a percentage rate per annum (or per year), and you have probably seen it like this: %p.a. It’s the amount you have to pay back ON TOP of the amount you borrowed.
5. The interest rate you pay can vary depending on the type of credit you choose and the lender you borrow from. For more on different credit options read here. The higher the interest rate, the more money you will pay in interest over time. The lower the interest rate, the less money you will pay in interest over time.
6. It can take some time to save up enough money for a big purchase, like a car. One possible benefit of using credit is that you can buy the thing you want now, even if you don’t have the cash saved up yet.
7. If you are going to use credit, it’s important to factor in how much the credit will cost you until you pay it back. Some loans also have monthly fees or set up fees, make sure you factor in all these costs as well.