Finding the Right Credit Card

There are so many credit cards out there to choose from that deciding which one to get can feel really daunting. What makes one offer better than the hundreds of others you've seen? Take this little quiz to find out what you should look for in a card.

First, Are You a Student?

If you are, then you'll be best off with a student card ? you'll probably have trouble getting accepted for anything else. It would be best to contact the bank where you have your student account before you do anything else.

Do You Have a Balance to Transfer?

If you do, then you need to be looking for a card with a low APR on balance transfers ? preferably one that stays low for more than a few months, unless you intend to switch often.

Are You Planning to Make New Purchases?

If so, then pay more attention to the APR for purchases, which is usually entirely different to the one for balance transfers. You should also look at what kind of grace period different cards offer, so you don't end up paying interest on your purchases straight away.

Do You Pay Off Your Balance In Full Every Month?

If you have a lot of money or you only keep a credit card for emergencies, then you might just pay it all off each time you get the bill. If you do, then you're in a position where you obviously don't need to worry about the interest rate much at all, since you won't be paying any interest (make sure there's a grace period, though).

Many people don't realise, but the credit card company still makes money from you even if you pay no interest ? the money shops pay to be able to accept credit cards. The credit card companies want to give you some kind of reward for letting them make this money without causing them any trouble, and you basically have a choice of three things:

Get cashback. For always paying everything off, they're quite willing to throw a few dollars your way. If you spend much with the card, this can add up to a tidy sum.

Take vouchers. You might, for example, be able to earn points as you spend that get you money off flights, or other rewards.

Give it away. If there's a charity or other cause you support, the chances are that you can donate money to them using an affinity card. This is a credit card that gives a very small percentage of each transaction to your chosen cause, and over time it adds up to a pretty decent donation for them.

Take Your Time?

Don't let anyone pressure you into making a decision before you're ready. Any offer that says it's for a limited time only is one you should ignore, as there's no reason to do it other than as a sales tactic. Think hard about your spending habits and what you want the card for, consider all the options you can find and then, once you're sure, go for it.

Ken Austin is the webmaster at Debt Consolidation Solutions and Credit Relief Solutions

---

Keep Your Credit History Clean - Remove A Negative Credit Record From Credit Report

The three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union are similar and feature a "Credit Score", which is created from credit report data submitted to them... Read More

Bad Credit Credit Cards

Chances are you've gotten your share of offers like this in the mail Bad Credit Credit Card, Bad Credit Visa Cards and Credit Cards for People With... Read More

10 Ways To Protect Your Financial Identity Being Used For Someone Else?s Shopping Spree

Someone impersonating you could be spending your hard-earned money.Impossible! Not really, check, loan, and identity fraud are a real problem. In 2002, the federal trade commission estimated... Read More

Credit Card Balance Transfers Can Help You Stop Putting Money Down The Drain

As you probably know, interest rates are at all time low right now and if you aren't getting the best deal from your credit card company then... Read More

The Advantages of Credit Cards

There are many evils associated with credit cards, but there are benefits that are hard to ignore. One benefit is having the credit card company act in... Read More

Maximizing Credit Card Rewards

In their quest to get you to sign up for their credit card, banks and financial institutions are coming up with more and higher incentives to entice... Read More

Finding Reputable Credit Card Companies

You're interested in getting the best credit cards for your family's needs, but you don't want to be cheated. Or you're interested in small business credit cards,... Read More

What Are the Most Common Ways to Commit Identity Theft or Fraud?

It's the number one source of consumer complaints at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and unfortunately, it's one of the simplest crimes to commit. Identity theft involves... Read More

The Hazards Of Your First Credit Card

You probably don't need me to tell you credit cards are easy to get a hold of; at least, that is so in the US and UK.... Read More

Cutting Credit Card Costs

What are the APRs charged by the credit cards in your wallet? If you are paying more than 12% interest on any of them, you are probably... Read More

7 Ways To Squash Identity Theft

It is the scourge of our age: identity theft. Thieves learn an important part about your personal information, such as your credit card number, and they open... Read More

To Repair Credit Is No longer Satisfactory - Learn How To Earn A Millionaires Credit In 30 Days...

To repair your bad credit does not necessarily mean that you now have a good credit, absolutely not. When most people have bad credit, they either purchase... Read More

Consumer Credit Reports

A consumer credit report is a factual record of an individual's credit payment history. It is provided for a purpose permitted by law: to help a credit... Read More

The Credit Card Surprise That You Need to Look Out For

Companies that issue credit cards want to make a profit. No one disagrees with that. The problem is that, we as consumers have, is when they have... Read More

Fun with Credit Cards

For those of us who know how to use them properly, credit cards can actually be quite fun and lucrative. To those who do not know how... Read More

Preventing Credit Card Mess

Credit card debts problem is extremely common today. It is usually the first sign of longer term financial troubles. How to manage your credit cards so that... Read More

Bailiffs & Council Tax - Knowing What To Do

This article is about bailiffs who may call trying to collect Council Tax or Community Charge (Poll Tax) arrears. If a bailiff has contacted you to collect... Read More

Is Your Credit Score Being Held Against You?

Credit Scores That HurtIs your credit score being held against you?More and more the staples of life depend on your credit score. Your mortgage, insurance premiums, employment... Read More

What You Need To Know About Credit Cards

What is a credit card? A credit card is a card that allows you to borrow money to pay for things. There will be a limit... Read More

Tips for Credit Card Surfers

Moving money from credit card to credit card to take advantage of interest free balance transfers and effectively borrowing money for free. It's even possible to make... Read More

What Is a FICO Score and How Do I Make It Work for Me?

Whether or not you receive a loan and what interest rate you get on your credit card may be determined by something called a FICO score. Named... Read More

Have You Ever Opened a Checking Account?

Maybe some of you are saving it in your trusty piggy bank, under your mattress or way back in a sock drawer. Although I'm glad that you... Read More

Credit Cards - The Top 3 Things You Need To Know

Today there are so many different credit cards available, student prepaid, low interest cards etc. that it has becomes a real hassle to find the right one... Read More

3 Free Credit Reports For You

If you were to tell someone that they can have a certain item for free, more than likely their response would be, "what's the catch?" In the... Read More

Cash Advance ? How Does It Work?

If you want a cash advance or a payday/paycheck loan, you usually get a personal check. Some companies use your bank account or credit card in addition... Read More

Are 0% Credit Cards Reaching Their End?

Are Credit Card companies starting to feel the pinch? We all know that the Credit Card companies make their money by charging us interest on the money... Read More