|
|
Credit Card Basics - Understing What You Need!
There are different credit cards to suit each individual. One
needs to assess his or her needs before applying for a credit
card online.
Many people feel that they have been through hell because of
credit cards and would not like to repeat...
Five Credit Card Billing Problems and How to Fix Them
It goes without saying that your first and best defense against paying fraudulent or unfair charges on your credit card is knowing what your bill says! When you receive your credit card statement each month, sit down with it and check each item to...
Protect Your Credit
Protect your Credit
Because identity theft and credit card fraud are among the
fastest growing crimes in the U.S., there are several steps you
should take immediately if your credit card becomes lost or
stolen, or if you find bills in your...
Useful Tips When Choosing Credit Cards
Chances are you have received your share of "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates and other perks. Many of these solicitations urge you to accept "before the offer expires." Before you accept, shop...
What Is A Good Credit Score?
As a credit repair specialist, the question I hear most often is "what's a good credit score?". It seems that everyone cares about their credit score these days, with interest rates lower than ever and the easy money lending...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Use Your Credit Cards Responsibly
With Americans going deeper into debt every day, usually thanks to uncontrolled use of credit cards, you may wonder if there is any good way to use a credit card. If so, how can you control your credit card debt, as opposed to letting it control you?
The first step is self-control. If you can’t discipline yourself to make wise decisions about credit card use, then don’t get a credit card. You’re just asking for trouble. This means that you have to be brutally honest with yourself. If you’re not judicious with the money in your bank account, how can you be judicious when it comes to the use of someone else’s money, which you’ll have to pay back with interest? Don’t fool yourself. Be honest and be willing to make the decision not to get a credit card if you feel that you won’t be able to control it.
That being said, there is a difference between thinking you can handle a credit card and actually handling one properly. It can be like a loaded weapon if you’re not careful. But, if you’re wise, it can be a valuable tool that can reward you for proper use. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of credit cards:
•Shop Around: Don’t just fill out any application and hope for the best. Look for the best deal. Make sure that the card you get will fit your lifestyle and your financial management style. •Pay It Off: Never charge more than you can afford to pay off within 30 days. With most credit cards, you get a grace period that allows you to pay off balances without being charged interest. •Leave Home Without It: Don’t carry a credit card with you. If you have to go all the way home to get the card in order to make a purchase, it will force you to think about
the purchase before you make it. This can reduce the number of impulse purchases you make. •Look for Rewards: If you can, try to find cards that offer rewards for using them. Some cards offer free gasoline, frequent flier miles, cash back or other incentives for using the card. •Pay Your Bills on Time: Late fees can cost anywhere from $20 - $40 for one late fee. This adds itself onto your balance and if you don’t pay it off immediately, you will pay interest on the late fee as well. Late fees can put you in the whole very quickly and many credit card companies may increase your interest rate the very first time you are late with a payment. Needless to say, it can be very costly to be late on your payment. It doesn’t look good on your credit score, either. •Don’t Go Over: Some cards may allow you to go over the credit limit you’ve been given to some extent. But, when you do this they may hit you with $20 - $40 charges, just like late fees. Again, this is bad news. It also does not look good on your credit report to have maxed out credit cards.
Credit cards can very quickly get you into a lot of trouble. But, if you avoid impulse purchases, pay them off every month and make your payments on time, they can reward you for purchases and help you build up a solid credit score. Just use your cards wisely and remember that you should be in control of your credit, not the other way around.
About the Author
David Medlock owns GetSomePlastic.com, a premier provider of online credit card applications and instant approvals. GetSomePlastic.com always encourages responsible use of credit cards and informed decision making in financial matters. http://www.getsomeplastic.com
|
|
|
|
|
Credit Reports - Credit Cards - Car Loans - Home Loans - Credit.com |
Credit.com offers a variety of credit related products and services including credit reports and credit scores, credit cards, car loans, home loan and ... |
www.credit.com |
  |
Equifax Personal Solutions: Credit Reports, Credit Scores ... |
National consumer credit reporting company that offers credit reports, FICO(R) credit scores and identity theft protection products to consumers and small ... |
www.equifax.com |
  |
The FTC's web site on Credit |
Credit is much more than a piece of plastic, and the resources on this site can help you become a more savvy consumer. You’ll also find compliance ... |
www.ftc.gov |
  |
Federal Trade Commission - Consumer Credit Center |
Features an assortment of helpful articles related to credit issues. |
www.ftc.gov |
  |
AnnualCreditReport |
Site set up by the big three credit reporting agencies in the United States, to furnish free annual credit reports, as required by federal law. |
www.annualcreditreport.com |
  |
Springboard - Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management |
Our mission is simple: To offer education on the wise use of credit. ... SPRINGBOARD has been approved to provide credit counseling services and issue ... |
www.credit.org |
  |
myFICO - FICO Credit Scores, Online Credit Reports and Identity ... |
myFICO.com: Get your Free credit report and Free credit score with a 30-day trial of Score Watch. All three FICO Scores and Credit Reports Available now ... |
www.myfico.com |
  |
Credit Suisse Global |
Credit Suisse Group is an international financial services group. - Shares part of SMI. |
www.credit-suisse.com |
  |
Experian: Free Credit Report and Credit Score, Credit Check ... |
Credit referencing and consumer targeting for the USA and other countries. |
www.experian.com |
  |
National Credit Union Administration - Home Page |
An independent federal agency that supervises and insures 7152 federal credit unions and insures 4240 state-chartered credit unions. |
www.ncua.gov |
  |
Credit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Debits and Credits, a type of bookkeeping entry; Credit (creative arts), acknowledging the ideas or ... Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit" ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
Credit (finance) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Any movement of financial capital is normally quite dependent on credit, ... Sometimes if a person has financial instability or difficulty, credit is not ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling |
DebtAdvice.org is a service provided by the Members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), most of them known as Consumer Credit ... |
www.nfcc.org |
  |
FreeCreditReport.com | Free Credit Report and Credit Score Online ... |
FreeCreditReport.com: Free credit reports and credit scores from Experian. Get your free credit report and credit score now. It's free, fast, and easy! |
www.freecreditreport.com |
  |
Compare credit cards | apply for a credit card | 0% balance ... |
Compare over 300 credit cards, including 0% offers and balance transfers, and make a credit card application online... |
www.moneysupermarket.com |
  |
Ford Credit - Auto financing for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars ... |
Ford Credit provides auto financing to finance a lease or purchase a car or truck through Ford, Lincoln or Mercury dealerships. |
www.fordcredit.com |
  |
The Credit Card Prank |
In my lifetime, I have made nearly 15000 credit card transactions. ... Credit card signatures are a useless mechanism designed to make you feel safe, ... |
www.zug.com |
  |
Credit magazine, corporate bonds, derivatives, structured credit ... |
Credit magazine provides information on the international credit markets for credit investors, issuers and market professionals. |
www.creditmag.com |
  |
CUNA: The Credit Union National Association |
News and resource directory about credit unions. |
www.cuna.org |
  |
Credit/Debt Management - Tools and Advice for Managing Credit and Debt |
Drowning in debt? Trying to improve your credit score? This is the place for you. Get real world information and tips, as well as the legal low down, ... |
credit.about.com |
  |
|