Low interest credit cards can provide you with substantial savings when it comes to interest expenses. Of course, the best way to save on interest is to pay the balance of your credit card off at the end of each billing cycle. In this way, you get to borrow the money for a brief time without having to pay any interest. For many people, however, paying the credit card bill off at the end of each month isn't always a realistic option. Therefore, low interest rate credit cards are the best alternative.
Finding Cheap Credit Cards
Fortunately, finding cheap credit cards is not all that difficult, particularly if you have a good credit history. All of the major credit card companies, including MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express, offer low interest credit cards. Therefore, you can easily apply for one with your preferred company. Often, these companies will send mailings to your home or advertise their low interest rate credit cards on television.
While advertisements and mailings provide you with a great way to learn more about your available options, you should also research other low interest credit cards. After all, one way some of these companies manage to keep their interest rates low is by cutting out advertising expenses. Therefore, the best way to browse through available cheap credit cards is to visit a website offering side-by-side comparisons of credit cards. In this way, you can look at the introductory rates, long term rates, and additional benefits of the cheap credit cards you are considering.
The Introductory Offer
The introductory offer provides you with one great way to save on interest expenses. Many credit cards provide a special introductory offer in order to entice new customers to apply for their credit card. In fact, several of these introductory offers are 0.00% APRs and can last as long as one year. More commonly, however, these special rates last for 6 months, three months, or one month. Often, your credit history plays a role in determining how long your introductory offer is good for.
When taking advantage of an introductory offer, you need to be sure to find out what the APR will be after the introductory period is complete. It is not uncommon for the rate to be quite high afterward. Therefore, you will need to be sure to pay off the balance entirely when the introductory period is over in order to get the optimum savings on interest expenses. If this is not a possibility for you, then be sure to select low interest credit cards that remain low interest after the introductory period is over.
The Low Fixed Rate
Another option with cheap credit cards is a low fixed interest rate. These cards do not necessarily have a great introductory rate, but the rate remains continuously low when compared to other credit cards. This is often the best option if you know you will be maintaining a balance on your credit card for a long period of time. Although the low fixed rate may not be as enticing as a 0.00% introductory rate, it can still save you substantial amounts of money in the long run.
Here is an example:
If you carry a balance of just $1,000 on your credit card for one year with a 20% APR, you will end up spending $200 that year in interest. On the other hand, a low interest credit card with a fixed APR of 8% will only cost you $80 in interest that year - saving you $120.
Low interest rate credit cards with attractive introductory rates and low interest rate credit cards with low fixed rates can each save you money when it comes to interest expenses. Be sure to consider both options carefully and to analyze your spending habits and your income to determine the one that is best for you.
Most would-be credit card owners these days have a bruise or two on their credit report and feel they may not qualify for low interest credit cards. Depending on the problem that appears on their bureau they very well may be right. However, a large section of the people with fair credit will qualify for credit cards with low interest rates regardless of their credit discrepancies if they can show certain attributes on the credit card application.
Believe it or not, some of the lowest rate credit cards on the market only require ?average? credit to qualify for. Knowing which cards, where to apply and how to accent the ?positives? on you application is the key to obtaining these cards. We have listed an explanation for these three tips below.
1) Which Credit Cards to Apply for ? Credit card issuers offer credit cards these days that come with all types of bells and whistles on them. Leave these credit cards alone. What you are looking for is the plain old fashion credit cards. This means no cash back credit cards, no reward benefits, travel cards and so on. These cards rarely benefit the ?average? user and carry a higher default rate than regular credit cards.
The plain or regular credit cards can usually be found at the end of each credit card sections on most credit card websites. This is because they carry a lower profit margin than the cards with bells and whistles attached to them.
2) Where to Get Credit cards for Average Credit - Low interest rate credit cards are rarely sent to your home in the mail. The credit card offers sent to your mail box are usually less attractive clones of the real cards that have lower rates. We suggest that you use these applications to start your fireplace or back yard grill.
The best place to go to get the low interest credit cards is directly into the bank that offers the card. The problem with this is some of the banks that offer the best rates and terms aren't national banks and may not have a branch where you are.
The next best place to look for low interest rate credit cards is well established online credit card websites. They usually carry a large selection of credit cards that are exactly like the cards you can get directly at the bank.
3) How to Apply for Credit Cards ? The credit card issuers aren't necessarily looking for a high credit score. They are looking for people with a fairly good track record of making payments and the capacity to pay them back.
Let's assume that I applied for a card having a 720 credit score and a mountain of debt. Let's assume that and you applied for the same card with only a 620 credit score but with very little debt, you would be the more attractive applicant in many credit card issuers? eyes.
Details on the application are a key factor when you fill out a low interest rate credit card application. If you have been on your job 3 years and nine months don't just put 3 years. List your checking account and your savings account if it asks, most people only list their checking. Finally, look at your credit report before you apply with any credit issuers.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group reports that as many as 25% of consumer credit bureaus are reporting inaccurate information that can cause you to be declined. If you see any errors dispute them immediately, it may take a month or more to get them corrected.
Have the credit bureau add a comment to your bureau that says ?consumer disputes this information? immediately. This will not help your score but will tell prospective creditors why your score is low.
Both Robert Alan & Aubrey Clark 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.
Robert Alan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Business Credit Cards and Credit Cards. For more information on what to watch for in , Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com.. Robert Alan's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.
Aubrey Clark has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Home loans and Finances. Aubrey Clark is an author and editor for DirectBanc.com. He has been writing on financial issues that range from to. Aubrey Clark's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.