| |
| |
|
|
Credit Information |
|
Saving Money with Credit Cards
Having a credit card is a wonderful convenience for those times when you don't have immediate access to your cash. It can allow you to purchase something on time for which you can pay later, thereby giving you the ability to afford something NOW that you'd have had to save for later. But buying on credit will also cost you money - in that way it's no different than taking out a loan to buy something that you want. There are, however, ways to save money when you buy with credit cards. 0% Balance Transfers One of the most common ways to save money with credit cards is by transferring your balance from a high interest credit card to one with a low or no-interest card. It's easy to illustrate your savings there. If you are carrying a balance of $1000 on a credit card that has a 19% APR and transfer it to one that offers 0% introductory APR for 9 months and a 15.9% regular rate, here's how your savings stack up: Interest on old card for one year: 1000 Interest on new card for one year: 1000 $1000 for a total of $39.75 for the year. That's a total savings of $159.25 for one year. You can, however, save the full $199 by paying off the entire $1000 during the 9 month introductory period. Save money on credit cards with lower interest rates It's fairly obvious that you'll pay less in interest charges if you choose a card with a lower APR, but before you jump for the card with the lowest interest rate, take the time to figure out your own buying habits. If, for instance, you tend to carry no balance or a very low balance from month to month, a low interest rate matters far less than say - a good rewards or cash back program, or no annual fee. If, on the other hand, you carry a balance from month to month, the APR is the biggest determining factor in how much your credit card will cost you. Just as an example, if you generally carry less than $100 on your credit cards from month to month, even an interest rate of 19% only works out to $19 a year, or $1.58 per month. In that case, it makes little sense to choose a credit card that offers a 10% APR with a $29 annual fee. On the other hand, if you carry a $500 balance from month to month, you'll pay $95 in interest for the year at 19% - but even adding in a $29 annual fee, you'll only pay $79 for the year at 10%. Don't just assume that the lowest interest rate is the least expensive card. Do the math - and save money with your credit card. Save Money with Your Credit Card Rewards Program Cash back and reward points programs are another way to save money with your credit card. If you use your card often but still manage to keep your balance low, you can save 1-5% on purchases that you'd make anyway. Many cards these days offer 5% cash rebates on any purchases made at gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets. In many cases, those rebates are applied directly to your bill. If you purchase your groceries with your credit card AND PAY THE CARD OFF immediately, you'll end up saving 5% on your grocery bill all year long. Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the credit card comparison sites http://www.credit-cards-info.com/ and also http://www.creditcards121.com/
MORE RESOURCES:
Credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Finding and Applying for the Right Credit Card Offer Online Anywhere you go online nowadays, you will see a multitude of ads for credit cards. Some offer low interest rate for an introductory period, or bonus frequent flyer miles while others offer real discounts on new vehicles and equipment. Which Credit Bureau Should I Use To Check My Credit Report? There are three main credit bureaus in the United States; Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Each bureau collects your personal and financial information which is then sold to lenders such as banks, credit unions, credit card companies, mortgage and auto loan lenders. Figuring Out the Ever Nebulous Numbers Called Credit Scores Credit Score FactorsThe information contained on our credit reports affect every aspect of our lives; including employment, insurance, and even interest rates (mortgage, credit cards, automobiles, etc.). Annual Credit Report and Free Annual Credit Report Getting an annual credit report review has been the advice of many financial managers as they guided their customers to be aware of all information on credit reports. Would the idea of a free annual credit report be good news? Consumers are thrilled with the new federal mandate that demands the three major national credit bureaus offer a free annual credit report to anyone requesting copies of their personal credit reports. Credit Cards Credit cards are a form of unsecured credit. The issuer is extending you a line of credit, usually tacking on all sorts of little surprises in the fine print. Why Should You Use Credit Cards Believe it or not, the way society, especially the commercial side, is set up these days, the only alternative to using credit is to pay cash for everything. But it's actually quite hard to do that. Cash Back vs. Rewards Credit Cards Ah, the sweet rewards of using credit!Not only do you get immediate gratification with the buy now-pay later plastic, but now, many credit cards offer rewards and incentives for using their card to make purchases. You can get cash back, or gift cards, or 'reward points' that you can spend on merchandise or services from various merchants. Rate Tarts Losing Ability to Cherry Pick A "rate tart" is someone who switches from one zero per cent introductory credit card deal to another to avoid paying interest; however they may be set to become something of the past. Recently a number of the major credit card companies, including Egg, Barclays, the Royal Bank of Scotland and MBNA have introduced transfer charges for people who want to shift their outstanding credit card balances to a new card to take advantage of a zero per cent introductory rate. Is Your Credit Score Being Held Against You? Credit Scores That HurtIs your credit score being held against you?More and more the staples of life depend on your credit score. Your mortgage, insurance premiums, employment opportunities and even your landlord may be using your credit score to determine your financial future. A Summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act This summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act will explain what you can legally do if you want to repair your own credit report. No matter what you hear, you can dispute credit information on your credit report if you understand the legal rights you have under this law. Credit Scoring: What You Dont Know Can Hurt You You've probably heard the term credit scoring. You may have some idea that your credit score can have an effect on your life. How To Avoid Becoming A Victim of Identity Theft With identity theft statistics currently at an all time high, and climbing, it just makes sense that we should all be doing everything we can to protect ourselves.One of the most prevalent yet overlooked ways your personal information and passwords may be being compromised is through the presence of Spyware on your computer. Credit Card Expenses Are Killing Your Budget! Do you know the costs associated with your credit card? Do your really know? Many people assume they do but aren't aware of the hidden fees that many credit card companies are charging you month after month. In fact, if you don't keep a close eye on your credit card, you may end up paying hundreds of extra dollars per year-without ever knowing it! And if you're trying to budget your money, those hidden fees can add up!Let's take a look at some of the most common credit card fees, and then talk about how you can avoid them. Student Credit Cards 101 Almost all students have and use student credit cards. Some of the students use them wisely and build for them an early credit history but others accumulate lots of debts that would have to be paid off once the student life is over. How to Get Credit Reporting Agencies to Help You The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating. Understanding your rights empowers you and saves you time and effort. Learn About Prepaid Credit Card Prepaid credit cards also called stored value card can be ideal for individuals who are unemployed, have bad credit or difficulty obtaining an unsecured credit card. Prepaid credit cards are also excellent for individuals who have a hard time controlling their spending and prevent the individual from overspending and getting into credit card debt. 10 Ways To Protect Your Financial Identity Being Used For Someone Else's Shopping Spree Someone impersonating you could be spending your hard-earned money.Impossible! Not really, check, loan, and identity fraud are a real problem. Student Credit Cards STUDENT CREDIT CARDS With graduate debt averaging over £12,000, the ability to spread the cost of further education using a student credit card is obviously attractive. Adding to their appeal is the fact that these cards are relatively easy to obtain. 10 Ways of Reducing the Risk of Identity Theft 1- Check your credit report regularly2- Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.3- minimize the amount of information someone can steal, do not carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet or purse, except when needed. Ways to Look Good without Selling Your Soul to the Credit Card Sharks 1. Buy clothes at thrift stores.
|
||||||||||||||