Making the Most of the Citi Diamond Preferred

The long 0% annual percentage rate period on the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card can be a double-edged sword. When a 0% rate applies to balance transfers, it's a powerful tool for getting out of debt. But when 0% applies to purchases, it can lure you right back in.

That's why making the most of this card means staying disciplined. Whether you're using it to pay down a transferred balance or a big-ticket purchase, it's important to stick to a plan and avoid overspending. You'll get the most value out of this card when you're using it to get out of debt. If you're only making new purchases, you'd be better off with a different card — one that offers a year or more at 0% while giving you rewards.

Move high-interest debt

Think of the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card as a get-out-of-debt-interest-free card. It comes with an introductory APR of 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months and 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.74%-28.49% Variable APR.

To move an existing debt to the card, just use Citi's balance transfer option online. But note that you'll have to pay a balance transfer fee of 5% or $5, whichever is greater. This fee is on the higher end of what similar cards on the market charge and could undercut any potential savings from the 0% period on transfers.

Still, if you need time to pay down the debt, the money you'll save on interest later could make it worthwhile. As long as the debt isn't from Citi and doesn't exceed your credit limit, you can move any balance you want to the card — even, say, a high-interest auto loan or personal loan.

Set a goal for becoming debt-free

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card isn't a set-it-and-forget-it card — it's a stop-and-pay-attention kind of card. To get the most out of it, you need to aggressively pay down your balances, and that takes focus.

For starters, it helps to create a debt pay-down plan if you don't already have one. Give yourself a hard deadline for paying down your balances and stick to it. Try picking up extra shifts, taking on a new side gig, or adjusting your tax withholdings at work and put that extra cash toward your debt. The sooner you get rid of those balances, the better your credit will get. Plus, you won't have to worry about shelling out money for yet another balance transfer fee.

Know when to call it quits

If you're carrying debt, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card can be your best friend. But when you're debt-free, well, there's no real reason to keep hanging around with it.

If you have good-to-excellent credit — which this card requires — there's no reason you shouldn't be earning rewards on your credit card. Ask Citi about converting your account to a rewards card. If that's not an option, apply for a new rewards card that suits your spending habits, and leave the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card open. With an annual fee of $0, there's no harm in leaving it open, and doing so will protect your credit score.