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[H1146]How To Get First Credit Card

by Tom Tessin, Tom

Being new to the credit card game can be a rough one, especially when you have no idea what's going on in the market. If this seems like you, you're not alone. Thousands of people like you graduate high school every year and have no idea on where to start to get their first credit card. While it seems like everyone and their brother say that credit is bad, it really isn't. As long as you use it the right way, you really can take advantage of the rewards I'm going to show you some tips on how you can get your first credit card within a few days.

Start with a student card – Most college students out there don't realize that there are cards out there that are designed solely for them. If you're a college student, you already have an advantage. Why?

Credit card companies love to give out cards to college students because they believe that mommy or daddy will bail them out if they can't pay their bills off in time. They also believe that a college student Is a little bit more motivated and a little bit smarter when it comes to managing finances. Remember, this is the company “thinking” this, not myself. If you're a college student, I highly recommend you try out a student credit card.

Go to a credit union – No matter what kind of town you live in, I'm sure there's a credit union or bank nearby that you can check out. If you're not a student after high school, try going to a bank or credit union to see if you can get approved for their credit card. Most of the times, you'll be surprised at what they can offer to you when you have no credit. Credit Unions are a great way to get your credit started.

Try a department store- If you don't like the idea of the first two, try out a department store. Every major department store retailer such as Sears, etc, will carry a credit card that can be used at their store. This card, if you apply for one, will be helpful for you when you're looking to build credit. Department store cards are a great way to build your credit because they tend to accept just about everyone. Be aware though, if you're new to the credit world, you'll probably get a lower credit limit.

There are a few things to remember when you're applying for your first credit card. Don't apply for too many cards at once. If you do this, it's going to hurt your chances of getting potentially approved for that card that would have approved you. If they check out your credit report and see that you tried to open up ten cards, this may look a little suspicious to them. My rule of thumb is to apply for one card and wait for the results. Once you get the results, proceed to the next step depending on what it said. Getting your first credit card isn't a challenge; instead it should be a learning experience. If you follow the tips above, your first card shouldn't be a problem!

Credit cards are reasonably easy to get these days. In fact, you really do not have to do much in order to read about what offers are available - they automatically come to your door, or in your emails. These offers, however, may not be something you need, or want. Here are some tips as to how to evaluate a credit card offer and end up with the credit card you want.

The first thing you will want to do is to see if it is the kind that you can really use. Remember that just because it is a credit card, that it may not be one that will actually benefit you very much. The one that will benefit you the most is one that offers you the highest level of rebates on things you normally charge the most of each month. So, if you travel a lot each month on planes, you want one that will give you a lot of air miles points, and other points for your hotel and restaurant expenses, too. After you decide, then go on and look over the other things.

The next thing is to look at the introductory offer and note what it promises. There are generally two aspects of the offer. The first one pertains to the purchases you make on a regular basis. Most cards will now give you a 0% APR interest on your purchases. The time frame, though, will vary from one card to another. This period can be anywhere from three months up to fifteen months.

The introductory offer will also offer the option for balance transfers. Check to see when you can do this. Some credit cards only allow you to make transfers when you apply, others, may only give you a couple of months. Then, be sure to look at how long you will get the 0% APR interest on the transfer, and find out if there is a fee or not.

The interest rate on the credit card is another thing you definitely want to notice. A lower rate is better. About the lowest you can go is 9.99% on you average card. If you have a business, and get a business credit card, you can actually get one that has no interest, but it will have a yearly fee. This could a significant savings in the long run, because usually the fee is voided for the first year, and if you carry a balance, the interest charged could easily become higher than an annual fee which is often around $125.

Pay attention to the rewards or rebates that you get with the card, too. These can really sweeten the deal. Go for one with the most possible. Some credit cards will only give you points on certain purchases, and other ones will give you points on just about everything, but with a different point system. For instance, when you charge food, gas, or medicine on some credit cards, they will typically give you from one to three percent back. That is what you want. Be sure to compare before you settle on a particular credit card.

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Both Tom Tessin & Joseph Kenny 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.

Tom Tessin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mileage and Fuel, Education and Finances. See all of the on the market along with Tom's work at FINDcollegecards.. Tom Tessin's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.

Joseph Kenny has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Debt Consolidation and Credit Cards. Joe Kenny writes for the Credit Card Guide, offering views on in the UK, visit them today for some great. Joseph Kenny's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.