What consequence occurs if a credit card balance is not paid off monthly?

When a credit card balance is not paid off monthly, the consequence involves paying daily interest on the entire amount from the day the purchase was made. This is because credit card companies typically calculate interest on the outstanding balance, and the longer the balance remains unpaid, the more interest accumulates. Interest is calculated based on the annual percentage rate (APR), and if the balance is not paid off, this interest accrues daily on the full amount owed.

This means that every day you carry a balance, you are charged interest on the total amount, which can significantly increase the overall cost of your purchases over time. Therefore, responsible credit management involves paying off the full balance every month to avoid these extra costs.