Paying Only the Minimum on My Credit Card – Does It Hurt My Score?

[astor]

Hi everyone,
I have a Discover It Student Card and I’m planning to make a big purchase: an iPad for school.

If I pay only the minimum amount due each month and avoid using the card for anything else, will that negatively affect my credit score?

(And before anyone suggests skipping the iPad — all of my school work is online, and the iPad is actually a cheaper option for me than getting a Mac.)

 

[Adam10]

Do not put purchases on a credit card unless you already have the cash to pay it off in full! Otherwise, you could end up with a huge amount of debt that’s extremely difficult to get out of. This is a common trap that many college students fall into. If possible, just use a library computer or a cheaper alternative until you can truly afford the iPad.

To answer your question: your credit score will be fine if you only pay the minimum due, since that doesn’t directly hurt your credit. But the interest charges will definitely hurt your finances over time.

If you really want the iPad, consider using a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) option instead - it may be a safer way to spread out the cost without piling up interest.

 

[Credit Card Community]

I wouldn’t recommend relying on just paying the minimum amount - that’s how people get trapped with years of debt on something that should’ve been paid off quickly. Credit card interest is brutal and will cost you way more than the iPad itself.

For your credit score, paying only the minimum won’t directly hurt you as long as you make payments on time, but your utilization will stay high, which can drag down your score if you’re carrying that balance for a long time.

If you really need the iPad for school, a better move would be to save up a little first, or look into student discounts, 0% APR student credit card promos, or even financing directly through Apple where you can split payments interest-free. That way you get the iPad without being stuck paying extra just for interest.