Do I still keep my balance below 30% on my credit card, even if I pay in full during the grace period?

Question

Do I still keep my balance below 30% (or, even better, 10%) of my limit, even if I intend to pay the balance back in full during the grace period?

I have to buy textbooks online that I need immediately, totaling close to $300, on a card with a $500 limit. I already set aside the money to pay the balance in full. For now, I have one book on order, with the rest on hold, just in case.

Answer 1

Do you plan on obtaining credit in the next month or two?  If not, then why worry about it.  

FICO penalizes you if your utilization is greater than 30%, so you have the right idea by keeping it below that.  But if this is your only credit card and you need the books, who cares.

Just dont go over the 500 dollars because of the fees associated with that.

If you have bad credit, take that 300 dollars and get a secured card.  One with no fees.  now you have two accounts reporting and building your credit.

Answer 2

It all depends on when your credit card chooses to transmit the info the credit bureaus.  If you are that worried, go to walmart and put the money on a prepaid and pay that way