Creative Thinking: breaking out of the box:

When it comes to breaking out of the shelled way individuals are trained to think; you need to do the forbidden. You need to embrace credit cards as a very useful financial tool. In order to start your thinking process down the right track you will first need to change your preconceived notions that “Credit cards are bad”. Everyone thinks a car loan is acceptable to barrow $10,000 to $50,000 but if you tell a person that you have $25,000 on a credit card they flinch shrug their shoulders and get a bad opinion of you. You need to do the exact opposite of what you are told is bad for your credit. Businesses will tell you credit cards are bad for you, wrong! It is bad for the businesses bank accounts. The Credit Card Trifecta strategy is the best for your checking account balance. You will learn how to get the best possible interest rates each and every time you need a loan. Every time you make a purchase of mid size to big ticket items you should have a plan. Do not rely on retail stores 0% financing as you are falling back into the splurge spending credit card trap.

The Basics: Know your tools

0% on Purchase – Planned correctly you can purchase your mid size ticket items. 0% on purchase works within this principle. Usually when you make your purchase, and are charge a fee of a rate of approximately 3% with a minimum fee and maximum fee of usually less than $100. The timeframe ranges from 6 to 12 months with an immediate rate hike of 10% to 15+% it just depends.

0% on Balance Transfer- Use this to consolidate current debt, notice this didn't say credit cards, into a manageable situation. This is a great way to pay off bills quickly. Usually when you transfer, you are charge a fee of a rate of approximately 3% with a minimum fee and maximum fee of usually less than $100.

On balance transfer you usually pay a fee, but be aware there are credit cards that do not charge a fee to transfer. The timeframe ranges from 6 to 12 months with an immediate rate hike of 10% to 15+% it just depends.

Fixed Rate – balance transfer for large debts, purchase of big ticket items, consolidation of current debt this is where most are too closed minded. Most think only in terms of credit cards when you should really examine all of your current bills. Usually when you make your purchase, and are charge a fee of a rate of approximately 3% with a minimum fee and maximum fee of usually less than $100.

Advance techniques: The Credit Card Trifecta Strategy

1) Get a low fixed credit card for daily use. Make all of your monthly purchases on this card. The idea is to pay off this card monthly. If it is not possible, having fixed is the best possible place to owe as it will help you to prevent high interest rates over the long term financing.

2) Use 0% on balance transfers or 0% on new purchases to buy big ticket items with a budget to pay them off. The key is to never use that credit card to charge again. You must completely pay of that card. (Generally your current credit card companies will not give as nice of offers as ones you don't have. The credit card companies that do not have your business generally give a little more in the beginning.)

3) Get a low fixed rate credit card for the life of the balance and put any debt that you currently pay higher interest rates on that credit card. The key is to transfer as much debt as possible when you first get this card, since the fixed rate will usually go up for later transfer.

A simple plan:

1) Make a list of what you owe for every bill you have a monthly payment. Your columns headings should be this:

a. Name of Debt (significant to you)

b. Balance due

c. Interest Left

d. Monthly Payment

e. Current Interest Rate

2) Determine how you can save money

a. For instance if you have a credit card that was originally 0% financing that you where unable to pay it off within the specified time frame you are now being charge 10% to 23% a month on a balance of $1000. Say you can make a monthly payment of $100 towards that debt. Most can get a 0% credit card offer to cover $1000 dollars. Transfer that amount onto that card because the standard transfer fee is 3% which equates to $30 to make the transfer. $30 is much less than 10 to 20% you are charged throughout the year.

b. For higher ticket items you may not want to keep getting taken for 3% up to $100 every time you transfer, but you make still be saving money in the long run. First of all if all of your payments go straight to interest you balance will go down faster, while you minimums will decrease as well. If you can find companies that do not charge the 3% fee you can say even more.

c. If you can't get a credit card company willing to give you the 0% and or do not have the time to keep transferring your balance then opt for the low fixed credit card offers which are fixed offers for life of the transfer. They key to these cards are simple you get the credit card make the transfer and never every touch the card until it is paid off.

3) Research multiple credit cards and start applying for the credit cards

4) Transfer your balances and or make your purchases

5) Review balances every year or after you have paid off a big bill or a couple of smaller ones or every year whichever is the first. Make sure to review as your credit limits will increase as you prove your timeliness, and so on.

6) After reviewing apply again to save more money.