Simplifying Your Search For A New Credit Card
|
Today, selecting the proper credit card can be a bit confusing to say the least. There are literally hundreds of offers from the major institutions eagerly competing for your business. The easiest way to shop for a credit card is to break them down into categories. There are seven major categories that all credit cards fall into. Each category is listed and explained below. Once you identify the proper category, simply narrow down the offers to the ones that best suite your particular needs and lifestyle.
General Purpose/Low Interest Credit Cards:
These cards are great general purpose credit cards for those not interested in all the special features and costs associated with CashBack or Rewards cards. They feature either a low introductory interest rate, and/or a low fixed rate.
General purpose credit cards are usually favored by those who tend to carry a monthly balance on their cards. A lower interest rate can add up to substantial savings on finance charges, and be of more value than cards offering high rewards, or cash back. If you are planning a large purchase, a low introductory APR may be just what you need. You can stretch out your payments over the length of the introductory period, and save a bundle on finance charges.
Cash Back/Rebate Credit Cards:
Cash Back credit cards give you cash or rebate incentives every time you use the card. The amount given is usually a percentage of your total purchases excluding interest and finance charges. Cash back credit cards should be considered by those who tend to pay off their entire balance every month, and therefore would not realize the benefits offered by low interest rate cards. Cash back cards are always hard to beat, but others may favor a rewards program offering goods and services in place of cash. The card you choose will depend upon your particular needs and lifestyle.
Reward Credit Cards:
Reward credit cards give you points every time they are used to make purchases. The points that you accumulate can later be redeemed for goods and services. Cards offering reward points are most attractive to those who tend not to carry a monthly balance. If you pay off all or most of your balance each month, a low interest rate will be of little consequence, making reward cards the perfect solution for reaping some extra benefits out of your spending dollars. There are many cards in this category that give special rewards as incentives to shop at specific retailers. Check the terms of each card to find the one that will best suit your needs.
Airline Miles/Travel Credit Cards:
If you're an airline traveler, you should look into credit cards that offer Frequent Flier miles. You earn Mileage points as you spend on your credit card. You also earn mileage points for the miles you fly. If you took a round trip to Orlando from Washington DC you would earn 1516 mile points. If you bought the ticket on your card you would earn even more! Most Frequent Flier credit cards will give you 5,000-10,000 free miles as a sign-up bonus, as well as discounts on car rentals, free hotel upgrades, and many other perks. Be aware that there may be caps on the amount of miles you can earn in a year, as well as expiration dates for unused miles.
Business Credit Cards:
If you own a small business then you should consider a business credit card. With a business credit card, you can make purchases under your business name, allowing you to separate your business and personal expenses. Business cards can in some cases carry a higher limit than a personal card, and additional cards may be issued to executives, or employees. Most institutions offer business cardholders a special categorized statement that makes it easier to manage your company's finances and spending habits.
Student Credit Cards:
Student credit cards are available to actively enrolled College students. They are ideal for building a credit history, and teaching the principles of financial management. After graduation, the credit history established with a student credit card can be a great help when buying that first new car, or even applying for a mortgage. It pays to start early and establish yourself as a responsible person by paying your bills on time. A student credit card usually carries some restrictions not found on ordinary credit cards. A co-signer is sometimes required on the account, and in such cases, permission from the co-signer must be obtained before the credit line can be increased.
Bad/No Credit Credit Cards:
If you have bad credit, or simply no credit history at all, there are alternatives to help you build/rebuild your credit. Many institutions offer secured, or pre-paid credit cards to individuals seeking to build or rebuild their credit. A secured credit card requires that you supply the institution with some type of collateral such as a car, home, boat, or cash. They will issue you a credit card secured by the value of this collateral. It functions just like a regular credit card, except that if you default the bank can seize the collateral.
Another solution is a Pre-Paid credit card or "Debit" card. Pre-Paid cards require that you deposit funds into the card's account in advance of making any purchases. When a purchase is made, the funds are deducted from the account balance. This is not really considered a credit card since no credit is actually being granted by the institution. Debit cards are a great alternative to carrying cash, and are hence much safer.
© Written By: Michael Casamento
Michael Casamento is the founder of the Credit Card Safari web site, offering quick and easy comparisons of the latest credit card offers from top financial institutions.
For more information visit:http://www.creditcardsafari.com
This article may be freely reproduced so long as the aboveresource box is included in its entirety.
|
|
|
Different Ways To Borrow Money
There are many different ways to borrow money. Outlined below is a useful guide to some of most common ways of borrowing money.LoansThere are many loan companies offering to lend you money. They will check your credit worthiness and may offer you a secured loan or an unsecured loan.A secured loan means that you undertake to give ...(related: Credit)
Negotiating Rates With Your Credit Card Company
Ok, let's face it, everybody hates high credit card rates, and they drain hard earned money out of your wallet. As a valued consumer, it is apparent that you learn how to negotiate to get the absolute best rate that you possibly can. The good news however is that it doesn't have to be a difficult or time-consuming process. In fact, it can be very easy indeed if you know what you're doing. In this article we will discuss the ins and outs of credit card negotiating to ensure that you get the best possible rate with the least amount of effort.
The Easy Way To Gain Access To Your Free Online Credit Report
When you apply for credit, those lending you the money want to know if you are going to pay them back. One way they decide if you are a good risk is to see how you've dealt with other people's money. They find this information in your credit report.Your credit is reported to three main credit bureaus and these bureaus then rate you. If you are planning to apply for credit, it would seem that knowing what is being said about you would be a goo...(related: Credit)
How To Order The Right Credit Reports To Repair Your Own Credit
In this week's article, I am going to offer some tips and insight regarding how to order the right credit reports needed to repair your credit.Believe it or not, a majority of the credit reports offered on the internet don't have the required information (File Number, Confirmation number, or Report number) needed to repair your own credit. So what hap...(related: Credit)
Finding Reputable Credit Card Companies
You're interested in getting the best credit cards for your family's needs, but you don't want to be cheated. Or you're interested in small business credit cards, but you've heard that some of them aren't terribly secur...(related: Credit)
Bad Credit? No Credit? Yeah, Its A Problem.
Many companies use the slogan "Bad Credit? No Credit? No Problem!" The truth is that it is in fact a problem and there is no easy way to correct it. It takes a lot of time and effort to obtain credit when you do not have any and even longer to fix bad credit. The first step to solving these credit problems is to understand what your credit score means. In doing this, you will have a better idea of how to fix it.Creditors use a point system to evaluate your credit. The more points you have, the better your credit is. These are some typical scoring methods used by most creditors.* Age-Under 21= 0 points-24-64 = 2 points-65+ = 0 points* Marital Status-Single = 0 points-Married = 1 point-Divorced = 0 points* Number of Dependants-None = 0 points-1-3 = 1 point-Over 3 = 0 points* Current Residence-L...(related: Credit)
Choosing The Best Credit Card To Apply For
Always shop around to get the best deal when choosing which credit card to apply for. If you don't do your due diligence you could end up with a card that has too high of an interest rate, that has an unnecessarily high annual membership fee, etc. Here are some things to look for when checking out the different credit card offers you may receive in the mail.1. Credit Card Terms:When using a credit card you are in effect borrowing money from the credit card company. The terms and conditions of credit that you agree to when you apply for the credit card will affect your overall cost. Compare terms and fees before you apply.2. Annual Percentage Rate:The APR is the yearly rate that is charged for money borrowed on the card. It must be shown on the application and on b...(related: Credit)
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. For example, if you want to rent a car, you have to have a credit card, even if you pay cash for the rental. The reason for that is because once a company has your credit card with your signature, they'll never lose money. If you default on anything, or if extra charges come up later, all they do is charge your credit card. Many companies require a credit card before they'll do any kind of business with you, for that very reason.After you enter the workforce, it's a good idea to apply for a credit card ...(related: Credit)
What You Didnt Know About Your Credit Card Numbers
Have you ever really looked at your credit card and tried to figure out what that huge string of numbers really means? Do these card issuers have so many customers that your account number has to be 16 digits long?You may be surprised to know that all those numbers you see actually do stand for something, and it's not just who you are. Let's take a look.Most of the major credit card companies operate on the same system when choosing a credit card number. Other cards like gas cards, department store cards and phone...(related: Credit)
Credit Cards: How To Use Them
Credit cards can be a very quick way of getting into even more debt if you do not know how to use them properly. UK debt is now at an all time high and, excluding mortgages, Credit Cards are one of the main contributors.It's a lot easier to get a credit card than it is to get a mortgage or a loan. So it makes sense that more people own a credit card. With interest rates that are quite high in relation to loans and mortgages you can see why the debt can get out of hand.In order to get the best value for money out of your credit card you need to be disciplined in the way you manage your debt.Make sure you make the payments every month:If you cannot pay off the whole amount every m...(related: Credit)
Your Guide On Choosing A Credit Card To Suit You
Reach into your wallet or purse, pull out a card, swipe, and you're done. It is very easy to use a credit card. The problem lies in choosing a card ? and it has nothing to do with the picture on the front! Choosing a credit card that works best for you is vital to your credit rating. If you choose incorrectly, you may find yourself in deep debt trouble. Here is some basic, yet extremely important, information that will h...(related: Credit)
Identity Theft ? Monitor Your Credit Report
The recent security breach at credit card processor CardSystems Solutions has many consumers w...(related: Credit)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Credit