In our Budgeting Clinic series, Tom Francis, head of personal finance at Octopus Money, answers your questions about all things personal finance. Tom is a fully qualified and chartered financial planner. Worried about how your savings are shaping up for the future, or need a plan for how to get out of debt? Drop him an email on money@theipaper.com .

Question: I usually use a rewards credit card to do my Christmas shopping . Last year I got an Amex everyday, which in the first few months you get 5 per cent cashback on. I got quite close to the limit on the card as I end up spending over £1,000 in the run up, but I always had enough in my account to pay it off. It was more as a method of getting cashback. Are they any bad side effects from doing that, in terms of damage to my credit

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