It is because without competition, most credit card companies would not care if their charges on interest rates were reasonable or not.
For this reason, credit card companies have provided various offers and incentives just to get the consumers on their hook. They need freebies and some special low rate fees in order to entice the consumers to sign up for a credit car.
Among the different rates included in a credit card, the annual percentage rate or APR seem to draw so much attention to itself. This is because the APR is the ultimate indicator of how much a particular loan can increase from the principal loan amount.
Basically, APR refers to the calculated interest rates based on the principal amount loaned by a certain individual. These are the ones that will indicate the necessary interest rates to be paid by the consumer after they have incurred balances from last month's bill, transferred a balance to another credit card, or made some cash advances.
With the competition among the credit companies growing at unprecedented rate, most of them have come up with the strategy of offering low APR credit cards. The main reason behind this tempting offer is to lure the consumers to their bait.
Of course, with the possibility of lowering one's credit card debts through the implementation of low APR, who can resist such remarkable offer?
With low APR offers, credit card companies are able to catch their customers by the hook, and the victims are those who were not able to understand the meaning of all those rates stipulated on the fine print.
The point here is that if people think that low APR credit cards are too good to be true, they probably are. Hence, it is important to analyze the meaning behind those low interest rates before committing oneself to credit.
Actually, what matters most in APR is on how these rates are expressed. Basically, there are two ways: fixed and variable rates. The latter is unpredictable, usually tied on a different interest rate such as the Treasury bill rate or the prime rate, while the former is preset.
Experts say that it is better to have low APR rate that are fixed rather than those that fall under the variable rates. This is because variable rates changes from time to time, therefore, there is always a possibility that the rate may go up or down.
The Reverse Concept
Low APR credit cards can only be beneficial to those who can make good use for it. That is, if a person is unlikely to incur overdue payments or accumulate balances from previous bill, then, the low APR will not be applicable.
Nevertheless, getting a low APR credit card is still a better option than having credit cards with higher interest rates. One could never foretell when the low APR could be very handy in the future.
Therefore, whether low APR credit cards are really beneficial or not, it is all dependent on the card user. Only one thing is certain, low APR credit cards are never good enough. They may change once the allowed period has already expired. That is why it is best to analyze the matter first before deciding. People should always be wary on making decisions where their money is the one at risk.
Low Apr Rate Credit Cards
Using a high interest credit card is like throwing money down the drain! If you're wasting money with a high APR, you should consider applying for a low interest or 0% APR credit card instead. Although your credit score will ultimately determine your interest rate, apply for a lower APR and you could save a ton on interest charges. Here's an example of how much you can save just by reducing your current APR:
Save with a Lower APR:
Your current credit card has an APR of 14.99%. But you've been pre-approved for a credit card at 9.99%. Over the course of a year, you could save 5% on interest. How does this add up?
Assume you have a balance of $5,000 on your credit card:
OLD CARD:
$5,000 x 14.99% = $ 749.50 per year
NEW CARD:
$5,000 x 9.99% = $ 499.50 per year
In this example, you could save up to $250 per year! If you had a balance of $10,000, you could save twice as much! This extra money could be used to pay down your current credit card balances, or used to make cash purchases and avoid increasing your existing credit card debt.
Save with a 0% APR:
Another great way to save money is using a 0% APR credit card. These offers have become increasingly popular in recent years because they offer a multitude of ways to avoid interest and pay off your existing debt more quickly. Not only can you save on new purchases, but you can pay zero interest on balance transfers.Here's a simple example of how you can save:
Assume you have $5000 in existing credit card debt, or you will make a $5000 purchase with your new card:
REGULAR CARD:
$5,000 x 9.99% = $ 499.50 after 1st year
0% APR FOR 12 MONTHS:
$5,000 x 0.00% = $ 0.00 after 1st year
With a balance of $5000, you could save almost $500 in interest the first year! This savings could be applied to your balances or used as cash!
Saving EVEN MORE:
You can clearly see the savings a 0% APR provides (especially during the intro period). But if you transfer your existing balances before the intro period is over, you can save much more! Essentially, you can carry your credit card balances interest-free as long as you switch your credit cards before the intro periods end. Many people have taken advantage of this method to pay off debts and save thousands of dollars in interest. But be aware, switching credit cards too frequently can have a negative impact on your credit score. So use this method in moderation.
Both Morgan Hamilton & Asap Credit Card are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Morgan Hamilton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Women and Guided Meditation. . Morgan Hamilton's top article generates over 201000 views. to your Favourites.
Asap Credit Card has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Anger Control. To see a complete list of 0% APR and low interest credit cards, please visit:. Asap Credit Card's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.
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