Finding the Right Credit Card


There are so many credit cards out there to choose from that deciding which one to get can feel really daunting. What makes one offer better than the hundreds of others you've seen? Take this little quiz to find out what you should look for in a card.

First, Are You a Student?

If you are, then you'll be best off with a student card - you'll probably have trouble getting accepted for anything else. It would be best to contact the bank where you have your student account before you do anything else.

Do You Have a Balance to Transfer?

If you do, then you need to be looking for a card with a low APR on balance transfers - preferably one that stays low for more than a few months, unless you intend to switch often.

Are You Planning to Make New Purchases?

If so, then pay more attention to the APR for purchases, which is usually entirely different to the one for balance transfers. You should also look at what kind of grace period different cards offer, so you don't end up paying interest on your purchases straight away.

Do You Pay Off Your Balance In Full Every Month?

If you have a lot of money or you only keep a credit card for emergencies, then you might just pay it all off each time you get the bill. If you do, then you're in a position where you obviously don't need to worry about the interest rate much at all, since you won't be paying any interest (make sure there's a grace period, though).

Many people don't realise, but the credit card company still makes money from you even if you pay no interest - the money shops pay to be able to accept credit cards. The credit card companies want to give you some kind of reward for letting them make this money without causing them any trouble, and you basically have a choice of three things:

Get cashback. For always paying everything off, they're quite willing to throw a few dollars your way. If you spend much with the card, this can add up to a tidy sum.

Take vouchers. You might, for example, be able to earn points as you spend that get you money off flights, or other rewards.

Give it away. If there's a charity or other cause you support, the chances are that you can donate money to them using an affinity card. This is a credit card that gives a very small percentage of each transaction to your chosen cause, and over time it adds up to a pretty decent donation for them.

Take Your Time?

Don't let anyone pressure you into making a decision before you're ready. Any offer that says it's for a limited time only is one you should ignore, as there's no reason to do it other than as a sales tactic. Think hard about your spending habits and what you want the card for, consider all the options you can find and then, once you're sure, go for it.

Ken Austin is the webmaster at Debt Consolidation Solutions and Credit Relief Solutions



RELATED LINKS

Accept Credit Card Payment Online

Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

 

Advanta Credit Cards

Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

 

American Express Credit Card Application

Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

 

Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

 

Best Cash Back Credit Card

Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

 

Best Reward Credit Card

Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

 

Business Credit Card Online Application

Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

 

Chase Credit Card Application

Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

 

Citi Credit Card Application

Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

 

Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

 

Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

 

Debit Cards

Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

 

Discover Credit Card Offer

Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

 

Gas Credit Card Application

Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

Fast Easy Payday Loan

Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

 

Hotel Rewards Credit Card

Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

 

HSBC Credit Card Application

Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

 

Low Interest Credit Card List

Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

 

Master Card Application

Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

 

No Annual Fee Credit Card

0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

 

Online Car Loan Application

Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

 

Online Debt Consolidation Services

Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

 

Online Foreign Currency Trading

FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

 

Online Mortgage Application

Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

 

Online Visa Credit Card Application

Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

 

Prepaid Credit Card

Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

 

Shopping Reward Credit Card

Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

 

Student Credit Card Application

Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


MORE RESOURCES:

China Daily

Fallout From TJX Credit Card ...
InternetNews.com - 10 hours ago
By Andy Patrizio: More stories by this author: The indictment of 11 criminals involved in the TJX credit card theft incident shows that cybercrime is indeed ...
Video: Feds Charge 11 in Massive Retail Hacking Case AssociatedPress
Credit card thieves ran a polite, professional help desk Computerworld
11 charged over US credit card theft RTE.ie
Sky News - Brand Republic
all 929 news articles


Sabah

US Consumer Credit Increases $14.3 Billion in June (Update2)
Bloomberg - 22 hours ago
Consumer credit rose by $14.3 billion, the most since November, to $2.59 trillion, the Federal Reserve said today in Washington. In May, credit rose by $8.1 ...
Consumer credit rose $14.33 bln in June Reuters
US consumer credit rose at double the pace forecast in June AXcess News
Consumers release their credit cards from musty wallets Albuquerque Express
CCTV - The Associated Press
all 185 news articles


ACA Terminates $65 Billion of Credit-Default Swaps (Update2)
Bloomberg - 49 minutes ago
8 (Bloomberg) -- ACA Capital Holdings Inc., the bond insurer that lost its investment-grade credit ratings in December, terminated $65 billion in ...
ACA Capital Holdings Announces Global Settlement by its Insurance ... MarketWatch
Insurance Commissioner Approves ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation ... MarketWatch
ACA Capital Holdings, Inc. Announces Restructuring Agreement MarketWatch
all 29 news articles


Credit Crunch Videos
Sky News, UK - 4 hours ago
Equity, bond, and money markets were reluctant to accept that this was going to be a global banking problem, leading to a massive credit crisis. ...
Credit crunch and banks: from the Rock to a hard place Times Online
The credit crunch The year of living dangerously Economist
Many happy returns, credit crunch New Statesman
BBC News - Independent
all 21 news articles


Washington Post

Here comes the credit crackdown
Independent, UK - 21 hours ago
One year into the credit crisis, regulators are hard at work on new laws they hope will prevent history repeating itself. Leading investment banks fear a ...
Industry group to address credit risk InvestmentNews
Panel Calls for New Risk Standards Washington Post
Banking Group Proposes Wide Range of Reforms Financial-Planning.com
Reuters UK - Finextra
all 44 news articles


S&P: Harley off CreditWatch, credit arm rating cut
Forbes, NY - 2 hours ago
AP 08.08.08, 2:43 PM ET Standard & Poor's Rating Services has removed all of Harley-Davidson Inc.'s ratings from CreditWatch and cut ratings on its credit ...
Harley Davidson A' corporate credit rating off negative watch - S&P Trading Markets (press release)
S&P keeps Continental ratings, but hurdles remain CNNMoney.com
all 9 news articles


The End of Credit Card Consumerism
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 4 hours ago
For more than four decades, our shopaholic nation has shown an insatiable desire to spend until our credit cards melt. And throughout this era, ...


StarPhoenix

Credit Suisse auction-rate debt suit may start frenzy
Reuters - 8 hours ago
ST Micro alleges in the August 6 complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, that by late 2006 Credit Suisse knew that collateralized debt ...
Fannie Mae expects smaller credit losses in 2009 Reuters
UPDATE 1-CS reinitiates IT hardware sector with "market weight" Reuters
UPDATE 1-Brazil's Unibanco posts lower net, lending rises Reuters
Reuters - Reuters
all 1,269 news articles


Credit Suisse Sued Over Auction-Rate Securities (Update3)
Bloomberg - 23 hours ago
7 (Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-biggest bank, was sued by Swiss semiconductor company STMicroelectronics NV for allegedly placing ...
STMicro sues Credit Suisse over auction-rate debt Reuters
Credit Suisse sued by semiconductor firm Bobsguide (press release)
Credit Suisse sued over 'auction' debt Financial News
CFO.com Magazine - Reuters
all 28 news articles


CNET News

Credit cards: US authorities charge 11 in global identity theft racket
guardian.co.uk, UK - Aug 6, 2008
American authorities have uncovered a global computer hacking and credit card fraud ring spanning the US, eastern Europe and Asia, officials said. ...
Gang charged for theft of 41 million credit card numbers ITP.net
11 charged in connection with credit card fraud The Associated Press
Retail Hacking Ring Charged for Stealing and Distributing Credit ... MarketWatch
San Diego Union Tribune - Boston Globe
all 295 news articles

Credit - Google News

home page | article index | site map
Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

 

© Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved