How To Use Your Credit Cards Wisely
Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you're going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here's some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.
Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later. Credit card companies are in business to make money. Don't forget that every time you use your credit card you are borrowing money. You will pay a finance charge if you don't pay off your balance each month.
Millions of people use credit cards to avoid carrying large amounts of cash, for emergencies, to track spending, etc. However, charging more than your income allows can be worrisome and potentially devastating to your finances and your credit rating. The pitfalls of credit card use are the accumulation of large amounts of debt and the inability to make more than the minimum monthly payment.
It's important to look out for your own interests. Some credit card companies have lowered minimum monthly payments to less than two percent of the balance. It could take 30 years or more to pay off your credit cards if you pay only the minimum payment. Debit cards should not be confused with credit cards. There is no credit extended with a debit card. The money is deducted directly from your savings or checking account. The bottom line is don't spend more than you can afford to pay on a monthly basis.
Limit the number of credit card applications you fill out. There will be an inquiry into your credit report for each application you submit. Your credit report contains a record of every company or institution that has evaluated your credit. It reflects negatively on your credit score if you have an inquiry that does not lead to the issuance of a credit card. Obtaining too many credit cards can affect your ability to finance other purchases as well, such as homes or automobiles. Too much available credit can cause suspicion in the eyes of a lender as to your ability to repay your potential debt.
Consider what you are looking for in a credit card such as the interest rate, annual fee, grace period, and credit line. Be wary of companies offering cards with a low introductory interest rate that often lasts for only a brief period of time, after which they become considerably higher. The average interest rate for credit cards is over fifteen percent. Choose a credit card with no annual fee. Credit card issuers are paid a percentage from the vendor each time you make a purchase. Many companies have waived the annual fee to attract customers. Avoid cards offering a high credit limit. There is great potential to overspend. Instead, pay down your balance before using your card to make additional purchases. Send in your payment well ahead of the due date. Issuers may charge late fees, and late payments could result in a considerably higher interest rate than the advertised rate.
So the bottom line is by using your credit cards wisely you can reduce adverse effects of credit cards and maximize the benefits by spending wisely, using self-discipline, and paying off your balance as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary fees.
About The Author
© Noel Hynes is the owner of http://1st-for-credit-cards.com. Easy online credit card applications.
MORE RESOURCES:
 MSN UK News | Credit firms on Facebook 'breaking the rules' Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - Credit firms who target young people by advertising on social networking websites such as Facebook are breaking advertising rules, a charity has said. ... Facebook users warned about loan adverts Credit firms breaking rules with Facebook ads Credit ads breaking Facebook rules |
 Dallas Morning News | Regulators' moves to stop credit card tricks deserves vocal support Dallas Morning News, TX - Consumers should be applauding and pushing rules proposed by the Federal Reserve and other regulators to rein in some much-criticized practices of credit ... Good Question: You can raise that low credit score Barely surviving on credit cards Credit crunched? |
MBIA posts huge loss on credit derivatives Reuters - The 2008 figure included unrealized losses on insured derivatives, such as credit default swaps, of $3.58 billion. Factoring in the unrealized losses, ... MBIA loses $2.4 billion MBIA (MBI) Reports Q1 Loss of $3.03 |
Credit Suisse, GE Raise $5.64 Billion for Infrastructure Fund Bloomberg - By Jason Kelly May 12 (Bloomberg) -- Global Infrastructure Partners, the private-equity venture created by Credit Suisse Group and General Electric Co., ... Global Infrastructure Partners Announces Close of US$5.64 Billion ... |
Telecom increases standby credit facility Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - The new facility, with Telecom's existing bankers, replaces the previous standby credit facility which had a limit of US$500 million (NZ$654 million), ... TEXT-NZ's Telecom increased standby credit to NZ$800 mln Telecom Raises Standby Credit Facility |
Credit-Default Swaps: Weapons of Mass Speculation Barron's - Buying credit-default swap protection is the ultimate bearish bet. But don't be fooled by the low profile of the business. In the decade since credit- ... |
 CPI Financial | United Rentals' $1 bln senior secured credit facility rated 'Baa3 ... Forbes, NY - United Rentals (nyse: URI - news - people ), Inc.'s existing rating of 'Ba1' for its senior secured credit facility was not affected by these rating actions ... Target ratings, outlook unaffected by credit card receivables sale ... TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Banking and insurance highlights to 09:15 BST Moody's Investors Service Names Michel Madelain As COO |
IndyMac swings to 1Q loss, sees 2008 loss The Associated Press - (AP) — IndyMac Bancorp says it swung to a first-quarter loss as deteriorating credit markets forced write-downs on the value of mortgage-backed securities. ... IndyMac Bancorp Reports First Quarter Loss of $184.2 Million ... UPDATE 1-IndyMac Bancorp reports quarterly loss IndyMac Bancorp swings to 1Q loss; doesn't |
 Sydney Morning Herald | Credit squeeze makes Dragon prey The Age, Australia - The global credit squeeze and the higher cost of funding it has induced is the key that Westpac chairman and former Treasury Secretary Ted Evans hopes will ... Westpac of Australia Offers to Buy St. George Bank (Update7) Bank of Queensland flags more mergers Westpac Bank in takeover talks with St George |
 Currency News | Yen Trades Near Four-Week High Against Euro on Credit Concern Bloomberg - By Kosuke Goto May 12 (Bloomberg) -- The yen traded near the highest in four weeks against the euro as concern that credit-market losses are deepening ... Dollar falls on renewed credit concerns Dandy dollars, credit-market coma and tough trade tussles Positive GDP reports expected, but signs of weakening ahead |
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