Many people get into the habit of having several different credit cards with small credit limits, possibly from when they began to establish or re-establish credit. Not only does this cause your payments to be higher, but your interest payments may be as well especially if you have several high interest low credit line credit cards. The inconvenience of transacting business this way makes it more feasible to take those small credit line balances and apply for a card with a higher credit line and lower interest rate. If you have established your credit for at least a year, it shouldn't be difficult to find a credit card with a credit line high enough to allow you to have fewer cards by transferring the balances on the cards you have to another one.
When you consolidate your credit cards, you want to be careful as well so that you don't take something with a higher interest rate in order to have the freedom to make balance transfers at a low rate. For example, you may find a card with no interest on balance transfers for the first six months but which has a higher overall interest rate than any of the cards you consolidate. It's essential to look at all of the angles and choose the one that is the cheapest in all ways. Card issuers use balance transfers to lure customers in to their programs and then raise the interest rates substantially when the introductory period is expired.
Sometimes choosing cards with an introductory rate on balance transfers is not in your best interest. For example, if you are paying on several cards at an average rate of 19.9%, the 3% balance transfer fee that most card issuers charge is minimal if you're accepting a card with a 9.8% interest rate. The key is finding a card with a lower interest rate that is going to be beneficial to you as a card holder. Paying a one-time 3% transfer fee from a card with a 19.9% interest rate to one with a 9.8% interest rate is certainly in your best financial interest.
In order to avoid these situations totally, develop the habit of paying off your credit cards each month and applying for cards that have a lower interest rate initially. Even if you are establishing or re-establishing credit, there are card issuers who offer lower interest rates on small credit lines with regular credit line increases. Look for the offers on those kinds of cards instead of taking high interest ones and looking to consolidate later in order to save money on interest payments and monthly payments.
Money Clip Credit Cards
Budgeting happens to be one of the cardinal concepts related to money saving strategies. It is considered as a great tool for making adjustments to reduce spending and start saving. In the modern globalized economy credit cards have emerged as one of the preferred choices for people from all parts of the globe. Credit cards offer instant solutions to your monetary woes. But, at the same time it may spoil your saving habits severely. Spend thrift people often end up spending much of their money in bad buys. Credit cards can only be helpful for people who have the financial stability to pay off the balance each month.
Different credit card companies offer different rates to lure their clients. So, it makes sense to do a market research before indulging in any kind of transaction. Credit card companies, which offer an introductory rate or a no-interest rate, are perhaps the best bet as that may help you save a few thousand dollars. According to a recent media news report, credit card debts exceed $2 trillion dollars every month globally. This illustrates how frequent use of credit cards can lead to indebtedness.
We may classify such credit card users in the following categories:
-Habitual spenders- a habitual spender is someone who spends more than what can be afforded.
-Everyday spenders- Everyday spenders generally keep a track of what they are spending on a regular basis and in the process use credit cards less frequently.
-Impulse spenders- Impulse spenders are those who use a credit card to make impulse purchases on different occasions. Not being able to afford the repayments they tend to carry over the loan from one month to the next one.
-Big spenders- a big spender generally is the one who spend more than other people do but at the same time has the financial viability to make proper repayments each month.
Many a times credit card companies, increase their interest rates citing universal default as the reason. Under the universal default system, credit card companies can double or triple the interest rates. This practice was largely a post globalization phenomenon. The process was initiated to deal with increase in bankruptcy filings in the 90s. It has however, now spread over the whole industry posing serious problems to consumers. Credit card companies are only aimed at making their own profits depriving consumers of their very basic right to save money.
In order to augment your saving you can do the following-
-Put a restriction on your credit card use.
-Set up a debit card account instead of using a credit card for making online purchases.
-One can also set up a savings account for meeting unexpected costs. Financial advisors generally recommend one to keep four to six months income in an account so that one can easily use it in case of an emergency.
So, next time you are facing financial woes do make it a point to reduce your credit card use to the minimal and save your hard-earned money from being wasted in unnecessary transactions.
Both Michael D. Strauss & Rateempire 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.
Michael D. Strauss has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, A Secured Loan and Finances. Michael writes for Card Sense where you can including those with a. Michael D. Strauss's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
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