Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Nitty-Gritty About 0% Credit Card Offers

By Wayne Ball


You have most likely seen many low interest credit card offers that looked like great deals. This type of card allows you to pay back to the principal balance interest free for a certain period of time. While this could be beneficial to some people, it might not be good for everyone. Learn more about how you can find the best cards for your personal finances.

Any time you apply for a credit card or a loan, be sure to look at your budget. Calculate your monthly expenses and how much you can afford to spend each month. It is important to always live within your means, especially with credit cards.

Perhaps the most important thing to find out about with interest free credit cards is the amount of time the card offers zero percent interest. Credit cards will generally offer low interest rates for three months to a year and then will start charging interest. It's important to know the details.

Don't forget to check the interest rate that will take effect once the interest free period is over. Often, people are so focused on the interest free period that they don't bother to check what the rate will be afterwards. Know what rate you will pay once the interest free period is over.

Another issue is a credit card's late payment policy. Some cards have a zero tolerance policy and will immediately start charging interest if you are ever late on a payment. The zero interest term does you no good if you are late and then have to start paying interest.

Furthermore, be sure you find out what fees will be charged to your zero interest credit card. You may be consolidating or transferring other debts, but it might not be worth it if the card you are applying for charges expensive transfer fees or monthly fees.

Don't ever let creditors take over your budget. If this happens, you could be one of the millions out on the streets. Thousands of people end up losing everything they own because of going too far into debt. If there is an emergency like job loss or illness, you could stand to lose everything. Learning the safest ways to borrow money and open credit lines is important.

Applying for 0% credit card offers might very well make good financial sense for you. Just be sure that you are responsible with your new card and don't find yourself in greater debt than before.




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