My cutoff is for billing purposes. After the cutoff date, it goes on the next billing cycle. There are some cards that charge from the day purchased, and most are those that are not paid off in full. I just bought the wife a new car. Was a couple days before the CC payment was due. The $5k part of the downpayment the went on a CC shows up on the website, but is not do until sometime after the next bill is sent. Why use a CC for a downpayment? Miles, lots of miles, and I do not run a balance, the cards are paid off each month. I have not paid interest on a CC since 1981, and that was during a period of unemployment.