When you open your wallet to pay for gas, your choices are usually cash, debit, or credit. Cash means running inside the store, and waiting in line. Debit can mean triggering ridiculous banks fees. Using your credit card can mean an interest free loan until the bill arrives, making it a common choice. Read on, to learn some ideas you can use to make sure that your credit cards stay a friendly part of your life.
Obtain a copy of your credit score, before you begin applying for a credit card. Credit card companies will determine your interest rate and conditions of credit by using your credit history, among other factors. Checking your credit score before you apply, will allow you to make sure you are getting the best rate possible.
When choosing the right credit card for your needs, you need to make sure that you pay attention to the interest rates offered. If you see an introductory rate, pay close attention to how long that rate is good for. Interest rates are one of the most important things when getting a new credit card.
Take advantage of the fact that you can get a free credit report yearly from three separate agencies. Make sure to get all three of them, so that you can be sure there is nothing going on with your credit cards that you may have missed. There may be something reflected on one that was not on the others.
You may want to find a co-signer if you don’t have enough credit to get your own card. Anyone who has good credit can be your co-signer. Your co-signer will be legally obligated to make payments on your balance if you either do not or cannot make a payment. Doing so is a good way to start building credit.
Only take cash advances from your credit card when you absolutely have to. The finance charges for cash advances are very high, and very difficult to pay off. Only use them for situations in which you have no other option. But you must truly feel that you will be able to make considerable payments on your credit card, soon after.
Read every single letter and email that you receive from your credit card company as soon as you get it. Credit card companies can make changes to your annual membership fees and things like your interest rates but they have to send you a letter explaining what they have changed. You have the right to cancel a credit card if you disagree with any changes.
Pay off as much of your balance as you can each month. The more you owe the credit card company each month, the more you will pay in interest. If you pay even a small amount in addition to the minimum payment each month, you can save yourself a great deal of interest each year.
Do not document your password or pin number. Make sure you know your password so you ensure that only you have access to it. Writing down your PIN, especially if you store it with your card, can put your account in jeopardy if the information falls into the wrong hands.
Keep track of what you are purchasing with your card, much like you would keep a checkbook register of the checks that you write. It is far too easy to spend spend spend, and not realize just how much you have racked up over a short period of time.
Don’t open too many credit card accounts. A single person only needs two or three in his or her name, in order to get a good credit established. More credit cards than this, could actually do more damage than good to your score. Also, having multiple accounts is harder to keep track of and harder to remember to pay on time.
If you do a lot of traveling, use one card for all of your travel expenses. If it is for work, this allows you to easily keep track of deductible expenses, and if it is for personal use, you can quickly add up points towards airline travel, hotel stays or even restaurant bills.
A great way to save money on credit cards is to spend the time necessary to comparison shop for cards that offer the most advantageous terms. If you have a decent credit history, it is highly likely that you can obtain cards with no annual fee, low interest rates and perhaps, even incentives such as airline miles.
As was mentioned earlier in the article, the credit cards in your wallet are probably a common choice for you to use for payments, for products, and services. Apply what you have learned from this article, to make sure that your credit cards stay a convenience, and not a stressful hassle in your life.
