10 Odd Places to Pull Out the Plastic
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During the construction of his new home, Braun Mincher pulled out the plastic for every new expense. “The contractor didn’t accept plastic, but we had a ‘cost plus’ contract. I was free to directly buy all of the materials. So I used the credit card for appliances, lumber, fixtures, carpet, etc.,” says Mincher, an author, filmmaker, and founder of Braun Media in Fort Collins, Colorado. He then paid off his cards monthly with his own funds or with an advance from the construction loan. The motivation? The consumer protections credit cards offer under federal law and convenience. “I got travel rewards and an easy-to-reconcile bill.”
Mincher generally pays his credit card balances in full every month which makes him feel comfortable using plastic to buy just about everything including a new engine for his small plane, diamonds, office furniture, a home theater, cars, and Lasik eye surgery. He even used credit cards in the early days of his business to make payroll when times were tight.
While Mincher may have the luxury of giving his credit card more of a workout than most cardholders, the perks of some credit cards are prompting people to develop creative ways to use their own plastic beyond the mall and gas station. Here are some other unusual or surprising places where you can pay with plastic.
Construction Site
While your contractor may not accept plastic, you can use a credit card to pay for building materials like lumber, cement, and bricks. In many places, you can charge building permits and other construction-related fees.
Maternity Ward
Charge everything ...
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Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Bricks, Cardholders, Consumer Protections, Credit Card Balances, Gas Station