Saturday, August 31, 2013

How To Manage Your Credit Cards

By Allen Hug


It is easy to become overwhelmed by the barrage of credit card applications arriving in your mailbox every day. Some of these have lower interest rates, while others are easy to get. Cards may also promise great reward programs. How can a consumer decide? This article will help you understand common credit card offers so you can make a more informed choice.

Keep track of your purchases made by credit card to make sure that you do not spend more than you can afford. If you do not consistently write down every single credit card purchase, you can easily lose track of how much you have spent and the new balance on your statement will come as quite a shock.

A way to make sure you are not paying too much for certain types of cards, be sure that they do not come with high annual fees. Some exclusive credit cards require you to pay between $100 and $1,000 per year to keep the card, depending on exactly how exclusive the card is. If you don't have to have a card that's exclusive, avoid fees and use small business accounting software along the way.

Understand what your interest rate will be. You must understand the interest rate before agreeing to accept a credit card. If you are unaware of the number, you might pay a great deal more than you anticipated. When your interest rate is higher than you expected, paying off the card each month becomes more difficult.

If you want a good credit card, be mindful of your credit score. Your credit score is directly proportional to the level of credit you will be offered by card companies. In order to get accepted for credit cards that have low interest rates, lucrative reward schemes and low fees, you need to have a stellar credit score.

Understand the terms and conditions for any credit card prior to agreeing to the use of the card. The terms include interest rate, yearly fees and payment terms. It is best to read and understand all the fine print before accepting and using a credit card.

Always know who you are dealing with and make sure they are legitimate companies when you give out your credit card information online. Try out any telephone numbers they have listed, and if there is no address listed for the seller, treat this with suspicion.

As you have learned, credit cards can play an important role in your financial life. You can buy the things you like, and if managed properly boost up your credit in the process. Credit cards are such a great thing to have. Use the information that was presented to you to get the most out of your credit card usage.




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