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Credit Cards Dos and Don’ts

Nov 1

Posted by Bob Jones in Credit | Comments off

Just ask yourself: is the credit card working for you or are you working for your credit card? Most people’s response to that question will depend on how they use their “plastic pal” as credit cards are often known. As many people with burned fingers will tell you, they didn’t realize that things had become so bad until too late, because most credit card companies try so hard to make themselves sound like a charity. Well, take it from me, they aren’t.

However, this is not an anti credit card campaign. They have their plus points – in the USA, for example, if you want to rent a vehicle, you must have a (major) credit card. But, consider this situation:

You get an offer in the mail that sounds great, perhaps it’s a new TV or fridge. But it costs $2,000. You have a credit card with a $5,000 limit, so you go out and purchase the item right away. Often, this is how your repayment schedule will work out. Most credit cards charge a minimum percentage of the total balance (usually 2 percent) per month. Assuming the interest rate is 18 percent and you choose to repay the minimum amount of $40, $30 of that will go towards interest and only $10 will come off the $2,000!

Does it sound worrying? Well, it doesn’t need to be. The moral of the tale is to use the credit card very, very carefully.

Credit Cards Dos and Don’ts

There is a great deal of truth in the saying that credit cards are not a substitute for not having money. Every time you use a credit card this should be the theme song playing in your head. Moreover, you would do good to remember the following too:

Dos.

1] Always plan for the purchases that you have to have and those that you only want. You need the essentials, but you just want everything else. The ability to differentiate might assist you plan more wisely.

2] If caught up in financial difficulties, it’s always good to talk to the credit card issuer who might re-schedule your payments. If you just default, that only helps to build up an unfavourable credit history and you might find yourself being denied credit next time.

3] Unless you are experiencing an emergency, remaining within your credit limits will assist you a lot. If you have to spend over the credit card limit, keep within manageable levels, say within 30 percent.

4] If your letterbox is chock-full of information on credit cards with more favourable deals than you are currently enjoying, you may always approach your issuer for a better deal. They want to retain you as a customer, so they will listen.

Don’ts

1] Do not use your credit card to purchase household goods. It is too expensive in the long term.

2] Do not only pay the minimum amount necessary. You will end up paying exorbitant amounts of interest. The more quickly you can pay off the debt the better.

3] Do not use the credit card to buy things you can’t afford.

If you are thinking onchanging or applying for a Credit Card, have a look at the free advice on our web site on using Credit Cards wisely.

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Credit Cards and Choosing One

Oct 16

Posted by Bob Jones in Credit | Comments off

Almost everyone over the age of consent (18 or 21) has or wants a credit card nowadays and they are accepted in almost every establishment. There are three major kinds of credit card in use in America. The first major sort of credit card is travel and entertainment cards such as American Express or Diners Card. These have to be repaid in full at the end of the month and are liberal on spending limits.

The second major type of credit card is the bank card such as Master Cards, Visa, GM, and Ford cards sponsored mostly by the banks. The bank defines the spending limits, which in bank speak, is known as the credit line and each offers different terms and conditions. Banks offer a selection of payment methods: either pay the balance in full with no interest or pay the minimum or some part of the balance with a finance charge.

The other major type of card is the retail store card, such as Sears, J.C. Penney, Shell or Mobil. These store cards and those from gas companies, widely known as fuel cards, are only taken in specific countries. They usually do not have annual fees. There is a large disparity in the terms and conditions for these cards.

Different kinds of credit cards offer different options. Some are designed for individual consumers, while others are designed in ways that work best for small business needs. To know what kind of credit card fits your needs, you should review a few options.

How to Select your Credit Card.

Credit cards have become a part of everyday life for most people living in the western countries. It’s becoming increasingly impossible to avoid them, especially for business men. So, if it is the first time you are thinking of entering into the world of plastic money, here are some of the basic things you should look out for.

First, compare the interest chargeable by all the credit cards for which you are eligible. While the rate will not remain fixed indefinitely, it’s always advisable for first timers to go for the one charging the lowest rates.

Read the small print carefully, especially on the other charges that may be applied, like late-payment fees, annual fees, and whether there is a grace period which is normally given before the finance charges are applied.

You should decide which spending limit is most appropriate for someone of your income level. Furthermore, the fewer credit cards you use, the better placed you will be to understand your spending pattern.

You ought to compare the features such as the cash back incentives, guarantees, rebates and such like and check whether the card is accepted broadly enough to fit in with your needs.

You will do yourself a favour by familiarizing yourself with the following terms: 1] Annual Percentage Rate: this is the measure of the annual cost of the credit. 2] Finance Charges: these are the total charges involving the transaction. 3] Period of Grace: This is the period the issuer gives you before he starts charging you interest on new purchases. (Note that not all credit cards have a grace period).

If you are considering changing or getting a Credit Card, have a look at the free advice on our web site on using Credit Cards wisely.

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Credit Cards

Sep 21

Posted by Bob Jones in Credit | No Comments

by Bob Jones

The commencement of the electronic age made almost everything more possible. Diagnosing and curing previously deadly illnesses became widespread; travelling to uncharted territories became a possibility and above of all, people’s everyday lives was made easier by technology. We now have more convenient stores, more comfortable means of transportation and a range of labour-saving gadgets that makes work and pleasure almost effortless.

When it comes to the technology of finance, an efficient banking system and efficient services have offered people better alternatives and options with which to manage their finances. Among the so many financial management schemes that emerged, one stands out above the rest – the credit card.

Credit cards, especially to working people and those who lead very busy lives, have become the ultimate financial God send. More than being an important status symbol or an accoutrement of expensive purses and wallets, credit cards have revolutionized the ways people have to regulate their money.

But, more than the glamour and the convenience credit cards bring, there is much more to these bank cards than most people could ever imagine.

Credit Card 101: Before entering into the never-ending list of the advantages and disadvantages of having credit cards, it is very important for people to have a brief understanding of what a credit card really is, in order for them to maximize its potential.

In layman’s terms, a credit card is a device that allows a person to make purchases up to the limit set by the card issuer. One has then to pay off the balance in installments with interest. Usually, credit card payments are per month and vary from the minimum amount set by the bank to the entire outstanding balance. And because it is a form of business, the longer the credit card holder waits to pay off his or her entire amount, the more interest piles up.

Since having a credit card is a responsibility, only those people who are of legal age and have the ability to pay off the amount they are going to spend through their credit card, is allowed to have one. Actually, most of the adults in the U.S. use credit cards, because it is safer and so convenient to do so compared with carrying cash or cheques every time they want to make a purchase.

It is equally important to be cognizant of the different types of credit cards before you begin to build up credit card debt in order to avoid having a large amount of debt. Since credit cards are indispensable to most consumers, it is a must that they understand the types of card that include charge cards, bankcards, retail cards, gold cards and secured cards. All of these kinds of cards come with one or two interest rate options: fixed and variable rates.

If you decide to have a fixed-rate credit card, the interest rate remains the same, compared to variable rate cards where the rate is subject to change depending on the credit card issuer’s discretion. Fixed-rate cards usually carry higher interest rates.

Basically, credit card suppliers usually offer three types of accounts with basic account agreements such as the ‘revolving agreement’ also called the ‘Typical Credit Card Account’ which allows the user to pay either in full monthly or prefer to have partial payments based on the outstanding balance.

While the Charge Agreement requires the payer to pay the full balance every month so they won’t have to pay any interest charges. The Installment Agreement, on the other hand, asks the payer to sign a contract to repay a fixed amount of credit in equal payments over definite periods of time.

Another category of credit card account includes the individual and joint accounts where the former requires the individual alone to repay the debt and the latter requires the partners to pay together.

Now that you have some understanding of how many sorts of credit cards there exist, it is time to review your goals before applying for one. Some of the facts you should consider is how you will use the credit card. If you intend to carry a balance at the end of the month, how much are you want to pay in annual fees, if you have a strong credit history and if your credit in need of repair.

Once you have a reasonable idea of what you want for choose the right credit card for you by looking for the information that will fit your needs. You may also review the credit cards you’ve researched and compare them.

Are you shopping for a credit card? Regardless of the type of credit card you choose, be sure to discuss your specific financial requirements with your financial advisor or accountant before applying for any credit card. It is a must that you understand the benefits of using a credit card like safety, valuable consumer protections under the law, support and the accessibility and availability of services.

Although having a credit card is thought of as being synonymous with financial security, this can also trigger a person’s thirst for material things and may lead to the temptation to buy something they don’t really want. A credit card holder should always bear in mind that having a credit card is a big responsibility. If they don’t use it responsibly, these may end up owing more than they can afford to repay. It can also damage their credit status report, and create credit repair problems that are quite difficult to put right.

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If you are considering swapping or applying for a Credit Cards, check out the free advice on our web site about using Credit Cards wisely.

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