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There are people who love credit cards and people who hate them. People on both sides of the credit card fence have a point. If you're trying to decide whether to get a credit card or whether to nix credit cards altogether, consider these pros and cons.
有的人喜欢信用卡，也有的人讨厌信用卡。信用卡交易双方的人都有自己的观点。如果你正在纠结是办还是不办信用卡，请参考一下这些优缺点。
The Pros of Credit Cards
信用卡的优点
#1. Faster to use.
#1. 使用起来更快捷
Compared to cash, credit cards are much faster to use. Swipe your card and you're done in seconds.
与现金支付相比，刷信用卡的速度要快得多。刷卡，几秒钟就可以搞定了。
#2. Ability to pay in installments.
#2. 能够分期付款。
While it's best to pay your credit card balance in full each month, you do have the ability to pay off your balance over a period of time.
虽然你最好每个月都付清你的信用卡账单，但你也可以选择在一段时间内分次还清。
#3. The credit boost.
#3. 信贷增长。
If used correctly–making your payments on time and keeping your balance low–credit cards help you build a good credit score that you can use to qualify for a mortgage or auto loan.
如果使用得当——按时还款和保持低余额——使用信用卡可以帮助你建立一个良好的信用评分，你可以用它来申请抵押贷款或汽车贷款。
#4. Funding for emergencies.
#4. 为紧急情况提供资金
While not the best option for covering an emergency, a credit card can help you cover an unexpected expense if you can't afford to pay it from savings.
虽然信用卡不是应对紧急情况的最佳选择，但如果你实在无法从存款中支付，信用卡可以帮助你应付意外开支。
#5. Ability to earn rewards that can be used for cash, gift cards, miles, or other merchandise.
#5. 能够赚取现金奖励，礼品卡，里程，或其他奖励
The more you use your credit card, the more rewards you earn. You can redeem your rewards as you go or save up for a bigger redemption.
你信用卡用得越多，得到的奖励就越多。你可以随时兑换你的奖励，也可以存起来换取更大的奖励。
#6. Ability to finance items for free when you take advantage of interest promotions.
#6. 当有利息优惠的时候你能提前购买更贵的东西
Many credit cards come with 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers for an introductory period of at least six months. This gives you the convenient ability to pay off your balance over time without incurring an extra cost for the convenience.
许多信用卡在至少六个月的免息期内，买东西和余额转账都不用利息。这使你能够在不增加额外费用的情况下，延后一点还清账单。
#7. No need to carry cash.
#7. 不用随时携带现金。
The majority of places accept credit cards, which means you don't have to stop by the ATM to pull out cash before going out.
大多数地方接受信用卡，这意味着你出门前不必刻意在自动取款机前停下来取现。
The Cons of Credit Cards
信用卡的缺点
With all the benefits that come along with using credit cards, there are some downsides that may turn you off.
使用信用卡有很多好处，但也有一些缺点可能会让你失去兴趣。
#1. Temptation to spend more than you can afford.
#1. 诱惑你花钱致使超出你的承受能力。
Credit cards open up additional purchasing power and give you the illusion that you have more money than you really do. Studies have shown that people are more willing to spend with credit cards than other forms of payment.
信用卡增加了额外的购买力，让你产生一种错觉，觉得自己的钱比实际的多。研究表明，与其他支付方式相比，人们更愿意用信用卡消费。
#2. They reduce your future income.
#2. 他们会减少你未来的收入。
Each time you use a credit card–or any form of debt–you're borrowing from money that you haven't earned. A portion of your future income has to go toward repaying your credit card balance if you want to protect your credit.
每次你使用信用卡——或者任何形式的债务——你都是在从你还没有赚到的钱中借钱。如果你想保护你的信用额度，你未来收入的一部分必须用于偿还你的信用卡余额。
#3. The terms can be confusing.
#3. 有些条款可能会让人困惑。
A person who's not used to reading credit card agreements can easily be confused by the phrasing and the jargon. Understanding credit card terms is important to use the credit card in a way that doesn't put you at risk of fees.
一个不习惯阅读信用卡协议的人很容易被措辞和行话弄糊涂。了解信用卡条款对使用信用卡来说是很重要的，能够帮助你规避风险。
#4. Fees and interest can be expensive.
#4. 费用和利息可能很贵。
Depending on the credit card and how you use it, your credit can cost hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. This is why understanding the credit card terms is so important – so you know how to avoid credit card fees.
根据信用卡的不同以及你使用它的方式，你的信用卡在一年的时间里可能要花费数百美元。这就是为什么理解信用卡条款是如此重要——这样你就知道如何避免信用卡产生的费用。
#5. Potential for debt.
#5. 潜在的债务。
You create debt each time you use your credit card. You can keep the debt from growing by paying off your balance each month, but if you only pay the minimum and keep making purchases, your debt will grow.
每次使用信用卡都会产生债务。你可以通过每月还清你的债务来防止债务的增长，但是如果你只支付最低限度的金额并继续使用，你的债务就会增长。
#6. Misuse can ruin your credit score.
#6. 误用会毁掉你的信用评分。
Your credit score is tied directly to how you use your credit card. If you run up big balances and pay your credit card late, your credit score will be impacted.
你的信用评分与你使用信用卡的方式直接相关。如果你积累了大量的余额，并且逾期支付你的信用卡，你的信用评分将会受到影响。
