The Fundamentals of a Credit Card

Posted by admin - May 13th, 2008

Credit cards, if used wisely, can be extremely handy and useful. By carrying a credit card you will eliminate the worry that comes with carry cash in regards to theft. Additionally, if you choose the right credit cards they could come with rewards when they are used. Of course, this depends on the specific credit card company but some rewards could include air miles, gift vouchers, or shopping discounts at particular stores. Generally, how it works is that you accumulate points and when you have earned enough points they can be redeemed for the awards.

When selected a credit card you should do so by making sure you will receive a good value for your money. Most companies that offer credit cards, also offer rewards of some type, it is important that you select one that is suited well for you and offers the best value. Additionally, you should use any credit card wisely and make certain that your expenses and the income you have coming in balance out evenly. When choosing a credit card, find rewards that will benefit you and what you want. For example, if you travel frequently, you should choose a credit card that will reward you with air miles. If you shop at one store frequently, find a credit card that will offer you cash back or special discounts for shopping at the specific store.

Other credit cards will offer you a point system, which will allow you to choose specific brand named items in exchange for your points. If you choose to go this route, make sure the items will meet your needs, wants, and desires. Additionally, when you are selecting a credit card, choose one that offers you an easily maintained credit limit. If the chosen credit card offers you a rewards system, it can help you pay off some fees that are associated with the credit card, such as the annual fee. It important that you wisely use your credit card, to keep yourself out of financial peril. Choose a credit card that will offer you extensive benefits and use it with care to make sure that you can afford to pay the balance each month, so you are not racked with high interest rates and fees.

Having a credit card takes extreme self discipline and it is extremely important that you pay off your balance each month. If you do not, you will begin to gain interest charges on the balance and may find yourself with an extensive amount of credit card debt before you know it.

Jeff Lakie is a contributing author at our website where
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Don’t Trade Your Future for Today’s DooDads

Posted by admin - May 1st, 2008

“Easy Low Down Monthly Payment,” “Buy Now Pay Later,” “You Deserve the Car Today and We Can Finance It for You,” & “Spend Today, 0% APR until Next Year!” We see those statements above every where today, on TV commercials, car dealership, banks and magazines. Those statements have put a lot of people into a financial disaster, because the statements make a lot of people believe that acquiring bad debts is an ok thing to do.

One of the main reasons why a person gets into a financial disaster is because he/she can’t wait when it comes to buy the things she wants. They keeps buying doodads and liabilities (things that lose values/luxury that goes beyond your current means) because they have no control of their spending habit.

For example, I have a friend who loves to use her credit cards to buy jewelry when she is depressed! Today she has over $20,000 bad debts. Every month, she can only pay off her interests from her credit cards only! Her office looks nice and well decorated but her financial statement looks very grim. She only lives from paycheck to paycheck to pay her debts.

Another example is if you buy a $500 computer with your credit card that has 18% interest, within a year you will pay approximately $300 interest from your card if you only pay the minimum payment every month for 12 months. A $500 computer + $300 interest = $800. So you pay $800 for a $500 computer. That’s not very smart move to make. Someone who is smart won’t pay $800 for a $500 computer! In a year, that $500 computer won’t even sell for $500 anymore on eBay or a garage sale.

A luxury car is another good example, a friend of mine decided to buy a luxury car because he thought he could afford the monthly payment, but what he didn’t realize was, a luxury car requires a luxury maintenance cost! It’s called the true cost of owning a car! The month payment of a car is not the true cost of owning a car! Go to edmuds.com to find out the actually true maintenance cost of your car. The car that he bought ended up owning him. He had to pay the repair cost, gas, waxing it, cleaning it, and other maintenance fees. Don’t even think of owning a luxury car is you can only afford the monthly maintenance.

So this is the wisdom key that I want you to remember “Don’t Trade Your Future for Today’s Doodads.” It’s not worth it & wise to buy something that will lose values by using your credit card. Think long term instead of short term. Think of what will happen with your financial future before you buy things on credit. Think of the amount of the interest that you will pay to the credit card company.

The next time you’re tempted to buy liabilities or thing that you know that you can’t afford yet, wait, take the time to wait! Say this to yourself “I will not trade my future for today’s doodads.”

Go to www.pebden.com to find more information about financial education products.

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EzineArticles Expert Author Entjik Jeffrie

Entjik Jeffrie

Business Credit Card Can Help Owners Go the Extra Mile

Posted by admin - April 10th, 2008

Business credit cards, quite simply, provide much needed credit for small businesses, while also providing a smart plan for managing cash flow. Many providers offer detailed credit reports to assist businesses improve their credit ratings. The cards can assist businesses in separating personal debts and business debts. Lenders will send statements monthly to help business owners keep track of expenditures, as well as providing online reports.

Low Introductory Rates

One of the lowest rate cards on the Internet is often the Advanta Platinum Rewards credit card for business. The card offers a very low ongoing APR, as well as a 0% introductory APR up to 15 months, including 0% APR on balance transfers. You must have good credit to apply for the card most times, however once accepted, the credit lines reach up to $50k. The rewards could include 5% on travel rewards or cash back, and no fees are applied on travel rewards.

Business Credit Cards

The Gold Delta Sky-Miles Business Cards offer a FREE first year holder and 15,000 Bonus Sky-Miles, on the initial usage of the cards. Cardholders receive “double miles” and 0% Introductory APR on purchases. And few companies will provide a credit decision in less than one hour.

Some of the business credit cards offer bonus points of up to 15,000 applicable, many times, after the cardholder has made his/her first purchase. There are some annual fees for a few of the card offers, but if so, potential applicants should demand a rewards feature with the card. Some offers provide businesses with significant reward points for per each dollar spent on business supplies and services. Most providers will offer a free quarterly and annual statement that tracks expenditures by spending category.’ Business owners can apply for as many cards as needed. In addition, there is a 0% APR up to one year.

Additional benefits of business credit cards may include, a collision damage waiver, coverage for vehicle rentals, emergency cash disbursements, and card replacements. The cards for business may offer inquiry services, fraud protection, assistance for emergencies during travel, and security on purchases and “extended protection.”

For example, the Business Cash Rebate Credit Card from American Express offers 0% APR for the first six months. There are no limits on cash back programs, no bare minimum expenditure requirements, no annual fees, and the cardholder receives 5% Cash Rebates. For more information, visit the Internet where you can search and compare some of the best business credit cards online!

For more information on how to use business credit cards to take control of your business, Steve Bert recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com.

Airline Card - To Own or Not to Own?

Posted by admin - March 31st, 2008

Everyone’s needs are different depending on their various lifestyles and living patterns. Therefore choosing an airline card from the various airline cards available will depend entirely on your personal circumstances and financial profile. Eventually, it’s up to you as to how hard your airlines credit card will work for you. But by reading these simple tips, and asking these questions, you can definitely wedge out a few more benefits out of your airlines credit card.

What is an Airlines Credit Card?

On an airlines credit card, one can earn credits or points whenever one uses the airlines credit card. After a certain number of “points” have been accumulated from purchases made on the airlines credit card, cardholders can redeem points for airline travel, just the way one might utilize frequent flyer miles. Be sure to know how many points you need to accumulate on your airlines credit card so as to qualify for free air travel. It’s also vital to know when these points will expire if not put to use within a certain amount of time. Since most of the top airlines credit card reward programs are quite expensive for credit card companies, any airlines credit card will usually come with an annual fee and will also have higher corresponding interest rates than other credit cards.

How to Select the Best Airline Card for Yourself?

The first step in determining which airline card to select is to know which airline you frequent the most. If you have an airline preference for most of your trips, find out if the same airline has an airline card.

Another thing to analyze would be the frequency of your flying. If you fly once every few years or so, you are least likely to benefit from an airline card. If, however, you fly often, you might want to consider owning an airline card. However, there is a catch involved in this as well. Many airline cards place restrictions on the number of points that can be earned in a year. So, if you are not able to avail the benefit of redeeming these points in the year, owning an airline card would be futile.

As we’ve already mentioned, most airlines credit card offers will have annual fees attached in addition to having higher corresponding interest rates than non-airline traditional credit cards, so watch out for that as well.

For more information on the benefits of an airline card can empower consumers, Robert recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com