Access to credit cards in Chile has widened considerably, yet only 7.6 percent of users name them as their preferred means of payment. The figure comes from the Central Bank's 2025 National Survey on Cash Use and Preferences, known as ENUPE. Most cardholders keep the plastic for larger expenses or occasional purchases and cover day-to-day costs another way. That gap between availability and everyday use suggests many people are not getting much out of cards they already own. Credit cards can offer detailed purchase records and installment options that cash simply does not. Getting real value depends above all on paying the full balance each month, since interest charges quickly swallow any benefit. Staying well inside the approved limit and keeping an eye on fees cover the rest of the basic discipline. The article walks through these habits as a practical guide for turning an underused card into a tool that actually earns its place in a wallet.