Credit Cards

Credit Card Basics: Make the Right Choices

If you're getting ready to apply for a credit card for the first time, you may be concerned about finding the best credit card. Here's a secret little tip for you - there's no such thing as a best credit card. There's only the right one for you. And even the right 'one' can go woefully wrong if you don't handle it wisely. Here are a few nuggets of advice from experienced users - some of whom learned the hard way how NOT to handle plastic.

1. Before you make applications, take stock of your spending and saving habits. Does money burn a hole in your pocket? Are you the type that does without lunch for two days before payday because you HAD to buy that scarf on sale? If so, credit cards are going to be a dangerous temptation in your wallet. Minimize the dangers of temptation by opting for a credit card with a low spending limit and the lowest interest rate that you can find. That way you can only dig yourself so far into debt before the spending limit stops you.
2. Consider why you need a credit card. People want cards for lots of different reasons, and those reasons can help you choose the best option for your situation. If you want the convenience of not having to carry cash, for instance, and a ready record of all your spending - but you don't intend to live beyond your means on plastic, then a good choice for you is a rewards option with a mid-range APR. By charging everyday purchases on your card, you'll keep a running record of your expenses AND earn cash back or rewards. It's a good plan for you as long as you only charge what you can afford to pay off in full each month. That way you won't be incurring interest on your balance - so the APR doesn't mean much.
3. Choose the right credit card for the job. The best credit card for charging large purchases is not the same as the one that's right for everyday use for expense accounts and the like. If you need a card in order to finance a new computer or refrigerator - something that you'll pay off over the course of the next several months - you'll want a card that has a low APR. If you shop carefully for your credit card, you may even find one that offers discounts on large purchases, and insures any item that you buy with it against loss or damage for up to a year.
Tip! A high credit rating will qualify you for more credit card offers than a low credit rating. The higher your credit rating, the more likely it is that you'll be approved when you apply for a credit card.
4. Read the cardholder agreement in full before applying. There's more to your credit card than just the APR. Before you choose a card, take the time to read ALL the small print. Total up annual fees, application and processing fees, late fees, transaction fees and any other charges that may be hiding behind the legalese so that you know exactly what it will cost you to apply for and use each credit card.

That last is especially important. Shop as carefully FOR your credit card as you will WITH your credit card. If you don't, you could find yourself in a situation where your new card arrives - complete with a balance of £150 in application, membership and setup fees that nearly eat up your entire available credit balance.

There are some really good comparison site where you can compare all the terms of dozens of credit card offers to find the best for you, then apply online for the credit card that works the way that you need.

Jon Francis has been involved in various areas with the world of finance and has a keen eye for a bargin! He has an in-depth knowledge of the credit card UK market and now helps others get the best from a credit card. For more information visit "http://www.moneyeverything.com".

Credit Cards News:

Live Search: credit cards site:msnbc.msn.com
Search results

Credit card numbers stolen off state Web site - Gadgets- msnbc.com
Thousands of credit card numbers were stolen from a state government Web site that allows residents to register their cars and buy state permits, authorities said Friday.
The worst credit card deals in America - Forbes.com- msnbc.com
It's one thing for card companies to raise rates on customers who are behind in their payments or whose credit scores decline greatly, but quite another for on-time customers.
ConsumerMan: Reining in credit card nonsense - ConsumerMan- msnbc.com
The Credit Cardholders? Bill of Rights Act of 2008 would change the way most credit card companies do business and provide consumer protection. It's about time.
Congress takes-on credit card  firms - Personal finance- msnbc.com
Some members of Congress are denouncing credit card industry practices that include raising interest rates for customers whose credit ratings decline, even if they make their card ...
Prime targets for credit card companies
Geology grad student Xu Xiqiao, 21, applies for his first credit card on the campus of the University of Michigan where, like other campuses, the lure of easy credit is everywhere ...
Credit card companies under attack - ConsumerMan- msnbc.com
We love our credit cards. Buy now, pay later is mighty convenient. And yet, many cardholders are unhappy with the way they?re being treated by their credit card issuers. By ...
Credit card leaks continue at furious pace - Consumer Headaches- msnbc ...
It's a letter no consumer wants to receive: "We are writing you today to let you know that Visa recently informed us of an unauthorized network intrusion," says a note sent earlier ...
13 indicted in $3M credit card fraud
   Adolph Laudenberg had secrets; terrible stories, of raping and murdering four women decades ago. But were they merely an old man's delusions, or the confessions of a wicked ...
Credit card issuers sending out fewer mailings - U.S. business- msnbc ...
What's in your mailbox? Chances are, fewer credit-card applications. ... Hey! I can actually see the back of the mailbox Credit card companies are sending out less direct mail to ...
Credit card companies tweaking terms, offers - Consumer news- msnbc ...
Although credit card issuers and other companies that lend to consumers have escaped the barrage of defaults that mortgage lenders have suffered, they?re nonetheless being more ...

Newsfeed display by CaRP

Personal Finance Info

Credit Cards