You're Almost Ready to Apply, But First...
Weighing all the options of the many credit cards that are available is a daunting task to say the least. No fee this, cash back that....the list goes on and on.So do you even know what to look for in a credit card?
I mean, sure...the interest rate is probably the number one aspect that people pay attention to, but should that be the determining factor? Well, that all depends on what you're using the card for. And yes, the interest rate is important, but let's take a look at some other features that you should pay special attention to.
No Annual Fee - This is one of the very first features we'll take a look at. As you may or may not already know, a card with no annual fee is exactly what it says it is...
APR(Annual Percentage Rate) - This is the most important feature to me as I usually carry a balance on my cards and I don't want to go broke paying the interest on them. APR stands for the amount of money you'll have to pay (as a percent) for using the card and having a balance. The longer it takes for you to pay off your card, the more interest money you'll pay...
Rewards - Rewards are a little tricky because some are good, and some are not so good. Try and think of them as perks as opposed to rewards. Check out below to see what I mean... You may end up saving yourself some money in the long run!...
No Annual Fee
What does this mean?
Now, you may be saying to yourself..."Why would I pay money just to own a credit card?".
It's simple. Some companies offer different incentive packages like cash back or airline miles with their credit cards. A lot of these will have an annual fee associated along with that...so basically you're getting something for your money! (annual fee)...a kickback, if you will.
Also, some credit card companies will charge you an annual fee if you don't have a balance on the card. This deters people from just having a credit card and not using it.
Well, I don't like that cuz I have a credit card that is for EMERGENCIES ONLY. I don't carry a balance, but I also don't have an annual fee either!
All you have to do to avoid this is spend a little money, make your payment every month and you're good to go!
When you think about what to look for in a credit card, I wouldn't recommend getting one that carries an annual fee...especially if the card is just for emergencies. There are too many better options out there that don't have one! Here's a great example...
...this application only takes about 2 minutes to complete!..and also has these additional features:
>No Annual Fee
>5% Cash Back
>Fraud Liability
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
Lower = Better!
Some credit card companies will try and advertise a very low rate...which is anything under about 10%. However, if you do your homework and read the fine print, you'll find out that the APR goes up after a certain period. Not good...unless it only goes up a couple percentage points, which isn't common.
Usually, they'll advertise between 0% and 5% as an "INTRODUCTORY RATE", and then jack it up to around 20%! Holy Cow!!!
This tactic is designed to trick people into thinking they can get a great rate, and it'll stay that way! Just be careful when your researching the APR's of different credit cards. They'll decieve you!
If a low APR is what you're after, take a look at this...
This card offers a 0% introductory rate, and then a 10.9% after that (depending on your credit). Those are pretty good numbers. It includes the same features as the previous one:
>No Annual Fee
>5% Cash Back
>Fraud Liablity
...just click on the card above to apply!
Rewards
What do they offer?
Airline Miles
Cash Back
Gas Credit
Giftcards
etc....
You get the idea. Basically, it's a way for credit card companies to "pay back" their customers for using their cards. However, in most cases the company wins out...big surprise.
Unless you pay off your balance every month, the credit card companies are making money off of your interest. How much money? Well, enough to cover the cost of the "rewards" that they promise you. Funny how that works, huh?
So, is there any way around this? Are the rewards worth it? Well, maybe...but it's all up to you. If you can keep a "zero balance" from month to month by paying it off and collecting the rewards...hey, more power to ya!
How about another example of what to look for in a credit card?
If you get free gas for using a credit card with "gas rewards", then maybe that's the way to go...especially with the gas prices the way they are. Here's a card that specializes in that....and as usual it has all the other features we're looking for! I got ya covered! Check it out!....
This one is great for people that travel, commute or drive a long way to/from college or what have you!
Remember, doing you "credit card homework" can make a huge difference in the long run. Be responsible, and weigh all your options before settling on one.
You can apply for as many cards as you want...FREE OF CHARGE...just make sure you accept only what's right for you when deciding what to look for in a credit card!
This is EXACTLY what you need to avoid! Check out this vid!....
New YouTube vids
World's Worst Credit Card?
Think you've got it bad with the fees your credit card charges you? Well try this: $247 up-front, for a $300 credit line... And that's not the worst of it!
Runtime: 1:36
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Other Headlines: What To Look For In a Credit Card
Here's some additional information in helping you identify the right credit card for your needs!
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