that "without interest" bit is not dependent on where you are in the cycle: it's 30-50 days from the last point of zero balance.
And of course 30 days without interest is basically "you pay it off in a months time".
I realized that another part of my problem with this column is of course that "using debt" for many people means a payday loan, which seem to be forever relabelling their "service" to avoid being called a 30%/week credit line.
When you pay your credit card, it clears the balance on a first in first out basis. So if I spend 1k today then 1k in 30 days time, I only have to pay 1k to clear the statement balance and avoid paying interest.
And of course 30 days without interest is basically "you pay it off in a months time".
I realized that another part of my problem with this column is of course that "using debt" for many people means a payday loan, which seem to be forever relabelling their "service" to avoid being called a 30%/week credit line.