<prompt> Human: I have two credit cards currently with US Bank, one with a statement balance of 573.00 and another credit card with a statement balance of 482.20. Combined, my Checking and Savings accounts have a balance of 797.90. Thats all the cash I have to my name.I get paid next Thursday, but since I was on a trip from the 17th to the 27th, and my next pay cycle from my job will only be from the 10th to the 23rd, I dont think Ill have enough money to pay off my statement balances. Im considering two options. Making the minimum payment of 30 on both cards and not using them at all next month, except for gas, or getting a cash advance so I can at least pay off the statement balances on both cards. What do you guys think? Any ideas on how I could get out of this sticky situation?Assistant: Make as much of a payment as you realistically can. Then live lean for as long as necessary until you have paid both off. And then keep living lean because you need an emergency fund.Human: So once I pay the most I can afford, would the interest rate then kick in? Would this lower my credit score or look bad on a credit report. Ive always had on time payments for the four years Ive had the cards.  <response>: If youre not paying interest so far, that means you have a grace period nearly all cards do. How those typically work this this:- As soon as you dont pay in full by the due date, interest is calculated on the outstanding balance. Its going to be that balance APR365 days since last payment. So its retroactive, but were talking 10 or so in interest.- You then pay interest based on average daily balance APR365 days, just like above until you make two timely, consecutive, and full payments. So basically, the clock is running and you accrue interest until the grace period kicks in again.Would this lower my credit score or look bad on a credit report.No - having a balance of a few hundred bucks does not hurt your credit, and absolutely has no effect on your credit report. Credit reports log late payments - as in you pay nothing, and it becomes 30 days late.Paying the minimum is not a good habit to get into, but its absolutely fine for short-term things when you cant pay in full. 