If you thought your memorizing days were over when you finished your final exams in college, you thought wrong. As an adult, there are several numbers you should store in your brain — one of which may be your credit card number. Here are the benefits to memorizing your card number and a warning for our online shopping loving friends.
The benefits of memorizing your credit card number
You’ve memorized your phone number and Social Security number, but do you know the 15-16 digits emblazoned on your favorite credit card? Here’s why you may want to memorize them:
Reporting your card lost or stolen. When you call your card issuer, an electronic voice asks you for your card number before you’re transferred to a customer service representative. Since you won’t have your card in front of you, this will be made infinitely easier if you’ve memorized your card number. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck exasperatedly jabbing the “0” key trying to get an operator while the aforementioned electronic voice informs you that your card number hasn’t been input correctly.
Making a purchase on the fly. If you don’t have your card on hand, but want to make an online purchase, knowing your card number helps. You may also be able to load certain rewards gift cards — like your Starbucks card — on the go.
Ordering takeout during your commute. If you’re jonesing for Thai food and want it to be there shortly after you get home, you can recite your number without digging out your card on the road. Yellow curry and a safe drive? Win, win!
Online shopping addicts, beware!
Of course, there are drawbacks to memorizing your credit card number. Picture it: You’re on your way to work on a Monday morning. The bus is packed, so you’re holding onto the pole with one hand while skipping songs on Spotify with the other. Your iPhone chirps to alert you to an email. And look at that, J.Crew has a sale!
Without the memorization of your credit card number, you’d have to wait until you got into the office to buy that maxi dress and those cute metallic sandals. But since it’s stored in your brain, you can purchase them immediately, one-handed, without a second thought. Before you can say “buyer’s remorse,” you’ll have a shipping confirmation in your inbox and a balance on your credit card.
Online shopping fiends, especially those who receive sale emails, may want to avoid memorizing their credit card digits. No good can come from being able to spend to your heart’s content on the spot. In fact, you may want unsubscribe from those sale emails altogether — there will be another sale, I promise.
What exactly should I memorize?
Besides your actual credit card number, you should memorize your expiration date and CVV number. You’ll also need to know your billing address, which should be your current address if kept up to date. If these addresses differ, login to your online account and update your address right away.
Credit card image via Shutterstock
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