Don’t Know Much About Credit Cards? Read This
Credit cards can be your best friend or your worst enemy. With just a little attention or energy, you can go out on a shopping spree that ruins you financially for months or maybe even, rack enough points for airline tickets to Europe. To make the most out of your credit cards, read on.
Do not use your credit card to make purchases or everyday items like milk, eggs, gas and chewing gum. Doing this can quickly become a habit and you can end up racking your debts up quite quickly. The best thing to do is to use your debit card and save the credit card for larger purchases.
Decide what rewards you would like to receive for using your credit card. There are many options for rewards that are offered by credit card companies to entice you to applying for their card. Some offer miles that can be used to purchase airline tickets. Others give you an annual check. Choose a card that offers a reward that is right for you.
Credit cards should always be kept below a specific amount. This total depends on the amount of income your family has, but most experts agree that you should not be using more than ten percent of your cards total at any time. This helps insure you don’t get in over your head.
Create a budget that is not impossible to adhere to. Just because you were given a limit by the company issuing your credit card doesn’t mean you need to go that far. It is important to stay within your budget and do not charge more than you can pay when the bill comes due.
Always read the terms and conditions of your card before using it. A majority of companies consider your first use of the card to be an acceptance of its terms and conditions. The print might be tiny, but you need to carefully review it.
Consider unsolicited credit card offers very carefully before you accept them. If an offer that comes to you looks good, read all the fine print to make sure you understand the time limit for any introductory offers on interest rates. Also, be aware of fees that are required for transferring a balance to the account.
Try to avoid prepaid cards when looking at secured credit. Prepaid cards are essentially debit cards, so your activity with them does not improve your credit. Oftentimes, there are extra fees charges for this. Place a deposit and get a proper secured credit card which will report to all major credit bureaus and raise your credit score.
See if your credit card issuer is willing to lower your interest rate. If you have been a good customer for a while, many credit card providers will be more than happy to lower the interest rate that they are charging you. It can end up saving you quite a bit and is not going to cost you anything to ask.
As was mentioned earlier, credit cards can accelerate your life. This can happen towards piles of debt or rewards that lead to dream vacations. To properly manage your credit cards, you must manage yourself and intentions towards them. Apply what you have read in this article to make the most of your cards. For more information on click here: http://www.aboutfinancenews.com