Archive for Credit Cards
Do I Need a 0 APR Credit Card?
Posted by: | CommentsIf you have checked your mailbox recently, you may have noticed the amount of envelopes for credit card offers. One that may have attracted your attention is the 0 APR credit card. But what exactly does it mean? In a world where hundreds of companies are trying to sell us something or the other, it is better to take a look at these offers and find out more about them instead of making a hasty decision.
What is a 0 APR Credit Card?
Actually, the first question is what APR stands for. The Annual Percentage Rate or APR is the amount of money that a bank charges you in a year. This money includes the interest rates that they assign to each one of your charges and the administrative fees of the financial institution. By law, every company that offers a credit card has to disclose this information.
In this case, a 0 APR credit card means that the bank won’t charge you interest or administrative fees for the advertised period of time. Sounds great, doesn’t it? This offer means that regardless of how much you use your 0 APR credit card, you will not have to pay any related fees.
So, where is the catch? It’s quite simple. The bank wants to maintain a long term relationship with you. They can survive for one year without charging you their fees and rates, but after that period of time you will start paying them. It is a marketing tool for increasing their client base and both the consumers and the banks can benefit from it.
Is it Right for Me?
It depends. For example, let’s say that you are not interested in airline miles or cash back options for using your credit card and you only want to find a card that will not bleed you with ‘extras’ each month, then a 0 APR credit card is an excellent choice.
On the other hand, if you can afford to pay a monthly interest and are very interested in other perks like airline rewards, then a 0 APR credit card should not be your first choice.
Banks have become very creative in the products they entice you with. You may see that 0 APR credit card have periods of time that go from 6 to 15 months and beyond, and may even offer some additional benefits.
Before signing on the dotted line for a new 0 APR credit card, or any other kind of credit card for that matter, do your homework. Compare apples to apples and research the different options that are offered in the market to find a 0 APR credit card that suits your financial lifestyle.
Troublefree First Credit card
Posted by: | CommentsWhen deciding which credit card to start with, you should sit down and evaluate some things about yourself. For instance, are you someone who procrastinates? Do you have steady income that will allow you to pay the bills? Why do you want a credit card in the first place? It is very important to be honest with yourself when you answer these questions because it is easy to get into a hole that you can’t crawl out from. Even if you feel like you are the most irresponsible person on earth, but you still want a credit card, a good one to get is the American Express green card. The Amex card has to be paid off every month, and you may be willing to spend less if you know that there is not going to be a minimum balance.
Finding the right one can be confusing because there are a lot of things to keep up with like APR, annual fees, and hidden charges. The best way to compare credit cards is to compare the APRs. The general rule is that the lower the APR, the lower the cost of money. Try to look out for the hidden charges that are behind the various offers. Sometimes companies like to hide things away in the fine print. Even if fine print annoys you, you should try to read it. There are often times charges for charging more than your credit limit, late fees, or periodic finance charges. Little charges here and there will end up costing you massive amounts in the long run.
When you use your first card there are some rules that you should follow. You should always shred your receipts, and also shred any credit card offers that you are not considering. Do not ever give your number over the phone unless you are the one who initiated the phone call to the company that you are ordering things from, or trying to get a bill paid. Keep the customer service numbers of all of your credit cards in a safe place. Sometimes companies will send you a new card and it will get lost in the mail, an automated system will ask for your information before it will let you proceed, however, if you don’t have a customer service number, you will have to wait until your next bill comes in. You would think that calling the store would help, but incompetence runs rampant in all parts of the world.
When you do finally get your new credit card remember that it is not free money. Everything you spend you will have to pay back. It is all too easy to fall into spending carelessly and getting yourself into trouble when the bills come due. Know your limits and what you are capable of and use your card wisely.
Your First Credit Card
Posted by: | CommentsStepping into the adult world presents a lot of new issues you may never have considered before. Among these new problems is how to establish credit. So many people find themselves ready to leave their parents’ home to get a home or apartment of their own only to find out that they can’t get certain things like a place to live and the utilities that go with it because they don’t have sufficient credit. Sometimes having no credit can be worse than having bad credit. When you are trying to get a loan for a car or a house your future creditors want to make sure you can pay the loan back. They have no records to look at to tell them if you will do this or not. It might sound like a Catch 22, but you will have to start by getting a credit card and making a few purchases.
When deciding which credit card to start with, you should sit down and evaluate some things about yourself. For instance, are you someone who procrastinates? Do you have steady income that will allow you to pay the bills? Why do you want a credit card in the first place? It is very important to be honest with yourself when you answer these questions because it is easy to get into a hole that you can’t crawl out from. Even if you feel like you are the most irresponsible person on earth, but you still want a credit card, a good one to get is the American Express green card. The Amex card has to be paid off every month, and you may be willing to spend less if you know that there is not going to be a minimum balance.
We have all heard the phrase “Read the small print”. True, one glance at half a page full of tiny print might make you want to disregard it, but in fact it would do you well to at least make an attempt to read it. The small print on your credit agreement could hold a lot of information that will save you money. Often there is information about hidden fees or fees you will be charged for spending over your limit. There might also be annual fees, or possibly a rate change that might go into effect after a certain period of time. Most companies won’t accept the excuse “I didn’t know” when they want to get paid. It is in your best interest to wade through that chunk of information so you don’t get caught off guard with a charge you weren’t expecting.
When you use your first credit card there are some rules that you should follow. You should always shred your receipts, and also shred any credit card offers that you are not considering. Do not ever give your credit card number over the phone unless you are the one who initiated the phone call to the company that you are ordering things from, or trying to get a bill paid. Keep the customer service numbers of all of your credit cards in a safe place. Sometimes companies will send you a new card and it will get lost in the mail, an automated system will ask for your information before it will let you proceed, however, if you don’t have a customer service number, you will have to wait until your next bill comes in. You would think that calling the store would help, but incompetence runs rampant in all parts of the world.
When you do finally get your new credit card remember that it is not free money. Everything you spend you will have to pay back. It is all too easy to fall into spending carelessly and getting yourself into trouble when the bills come due. Know your limits and what you are capable of and use your card wisely.
Credit Card Truths and Traps
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are struggling with ever-increasing credit card debt, a 0 APR credit card could be the magic wand for you. There are a number of 0 APR credit cards in the marketplace. These 0 Interest credit cards offer cardholders zero percent on new purchases and certain 0 APR credit card offers also allow balance transfers, lowering the interest burden even further.
The Truth About 0 APR Credit Cards
These types of 0 APR credit cards are offered by popular credit card lenders including American Ex press, Citibank, Chase, HSBC, and Discover. These cards have many benefits to offer if you have a good to excellent credit rating.
Keep in mind, that the zero percent offered with these cards is not permanent. It is an introductory rate and is typically offered for ninety days to as long as 12 months. At the end of the interest-free or zero percent periods, cardholders will have to pay a higher ongoing interest rate. Generally, these rates could vary between 10 % – 14% and sometimes can be as high as 24%.
A 0 APR credit card is ideal when you want to purchase something expensive but cannot find another way to finance it. There will be no interest charges for the in and you will have the introductory buffer period to pay off the expense. But buyer beware … make sure you can pay the purchase off before the introductory APR expires.
Most 0 Interest credit cards allow balance transfers from your existing higher interest cards and many will waive the transfer fees. This is one of the best met hods to pay off debts at a faster rate, leading to substantial savings on the interest charges incurred.
It is possible that a single credit card can have multiple APRs including the following:
1) One APR for balance transfers, one for purchases, and one for cash advances ? the APR normally would be higher for cash advances compared to balance transfers and purchases.
2) Tiered APRs ? Different APR levels can be assigned for different account balance levels or tiers, e.g., 15% for balanc es between $1 – $500 and 17% for balances higher than $500, etc.
3) Introductory APR ? 0 APR as the introductory offer and a higher rate upon expiration of the introductory period.
4) Penalty APR ? A penalty APR rate may apply if you are late with your payments.
The Traps to Watch Out For:
A 0 APR credit card is an attractive proposition, and often is too tempting an offer to resist. However, it is essential to be informed about the often-untold catches in these lucrative offers.
1. The 0 APR is a Limited Time Offer ? In general, the 0 APR offered is only for a limited period. The period could vary from 3 months to 12 months. This implies that purchases made during this period will not attract any interest. You need to be cautious about the expiry period and remember to pay off before the period ends inorder to avoid hefty interest charges.
2. Once the introductory period is over, the 0 APR credit card may have a ridiculously high interest rate like 20% or higher.
3. On-Time Payment ? Most of these 0 Interest credit cards require you to pay the minimum payment on time every month during the introductory period. Late payments will result in penalties that include shifting the remaining balance to a much higher APR.
4. Complete Payment ? Certain 0 APR cards require you to pay off the balance entirely before the expiration period of the introductory offer. If not, the default high interest rate could be applied to the entire balance. Ensure that you understan d these credit card terms clearly.
5. Applicability of the 0 APR ? Most of the 0 Interest cards offer the 0 APR on new purchases and balance transfers in the introductory period. However, there are some cards that offer 0 APR on balance transfers only with higher applicable APR’s on new purchases.
6. Other Fees ? Some credit card companies compensate the 0 APR by charging high annual fees or transfer fees on balance transfers.
7. Cap on Balance Transfer ? Certain cards may have a cap o r limit on the balance transfer amount. This means that the 0 APR will apply only for the amount within the cap limit and anything more will be charged the default higher APR.
While it may be an attractive offer to go for 0 APR credit cards, it may not be a wise decision in certain scenarios. So, before you seriously consider a 0 APR credit card, it is essential to compute credit balances, interest rates, and your pay off capability. Read the terms and conditions carefully to avoid credit traps. Un derstanding the fine print could have substantial savings apart from trouble free credit rating.
For more information on what to watch for in 0 APR credit card offers, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com
Train Your Kids To Manage Money
Posted by: | CommentsCrippling consumer debt and bankruptcy now are common everyday occurrences in the U.S. That makes it all the more surprising that children do not get money management training in school. Until that changes, it is up to parents, advises the Financial Planning Association, Denver, Colo. The back-to-school season is a good time to talk to your kids about money–and get specific about the financial values you want to teach them.
Here are some initial steps:
Determine the right allowance. As early as kindergarten or first grade, youngsters are going to have to start paying for things, even if it merely is one container of milk a day. You need to understand how much money children require for basic school expenses. Decide whether they have to to earn an amount for extras–toys and candy, for instance–then stress why working for treats is important.
Take a look in the mirror. Do you drive a bigger car than you can afford? Every time you go to the store, do you pull out a credit card to pay? Do you and your spouse fight openly about money at home? Your child observes all of this. Children learn all-important lessons by example–make sure the money messages being sent are the right ones.
Buy a piggy bank. Young children need this tried-and-true symbol of saving. They should know there is a place to put pocket change they do not spend, and they are free to tap it only to accomplish a goal that the both of you discuss. This is not about buying stuff; it is about setting goals.
Do not miss an opportunity for a lesson. Watch your child’s behavior–see what he or she wants to buy. Ask them how they plan to pay for things. This is your window on whether your money messages are getting through. “I want” and “I need” always are opportunities for you to teach.
Have them open a savings account. Be sure they keep their bankbook or monthly statements in a safe place, and that they deposit funds at least once a month to get in the habit.
Handle money mistakes carefully. Children are going to make mistakes with money–they will lose it, spend it on the wrong things, or possibly give it away to others. Youngsters need to be taught sense and caution with money, but not fear.
Adjust the conversation as they age. As kids become teens, they want more autonomy with their spending. You need to match that trust with accountability. If you deposit money in an account for them, talk about what extras you are willing to pay for and make those agreements ironclad.
Talk about college early. Even if you plan to pay your children’s entire tuition, talk about the financial investment college represents long before they go. This is a great time to discuss what the most important things in life really cost.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Society for the Advancement of Education
No Annual Fee Credit Card
Posted by: | CommentsMost new credit cards come with a no annual fee offer. This hasn’t always been the case. I wonder if issuers realized how much people resented the yearly fee they were charging just to use their credit card?
Now that they gradually eliminated the annual fees, they’ve advanced the ‘no annual fee credit card’ into a marketing incentive. But that doesn’t mean there are no fees at all. That is why you need to read the entire offer before signing for a new credit card.
If you don’t pay the entire balance each month, you must pay a service charge on the unpaid balance. Then if you go over your credit card limit, you must pay an additional fee, perhaps in the $35 range. In addition, if you’re late making any payment, not only are you charged a service charge and maybe an over-limit charge, you’re assessed a late fee as well. These added fees more than make up for the annual fee that has been discontinued for most cards.
When applying for a new credit card, it’s imperative that you plan on and handle your spending and bill paying responsibly. In addition to the added fees, missteps with a credit card can cost you dearly in other ways as well. It can be reflected on your credit report which in turn effects many aspects of your life from a job application, home loan, purchase of a new car, to the interest rate you’re charged on new credit purchases. An unfavorable mark on your credit report can even have an effect when applying for insurance.
No annual fee credit cards are offered by most banks and financial institutions. Once you’ve found a credit card offer that doesn’t charge a yearly fee, you can then look at the additional features of each offer.
No interest for an introductory time can enable you to consolidate debts interest free. Rewards programs for many credit cards include cash back, air miles, and numerous goodies too many to mention. Whatever your current financial situation or outlook, there’s a credit card offer that will fit your needs.
About The Author
Bradley Carson is an internet marketer and is owner of Apply Online For A Credit Card at http://www.cards-king.com.