One of the ways that credit cards get consumers interested in their credit card products is by offering them low interest rates or low interest rate introductory offers. While low interest rates are great for consumers, do your homework so that you're not surprised with high fees or short term low interest rates that jump sky high after the introductory period is over.

It's hard to turn down a credit card with 0% interest, but as they say, there is no such thing as a free lunch. While credit cards with low fees are great for consumers, banks need to make their money in some way and have a way of finding revenue by adding steep fees and only offering low interest rates for the short term.

For instance, you might sign up for a credit card with 0% interest for 6 months, only to find that at the end of that period, the interest rate jumps to 15%. During the first 6 months, you used that specific card very often thinking you are getting a bargain. Unfortunately, now that your credit card balance is higher than before you will be paying a high interest rate and not getting such a great deal. If you want to avoid high interest rates and high credit card debt, avoid traps such as the one above. Low interest rates are great, but in the long run an introductory offer can hurt more than a stable low interest rate credit card.

Low interest rates that last for more than 6 months or a year are usually given to consumers with the best credit rating. If you have good credit, you can usually count on being offered good credit card rates with low fees, for people with bad or poor credit expect a moderate or high interest rate.

There are instances where consumers can use low or no interest rate introductory offers to their advantage. One is to purchase an item that you have the money for in the bank, you can easily pay it off in six months and don't have to use your savings as it accrues interest. This might work for a high priced TV or vacation. Another instance, low or zero percent interest rates can work for you is if you have a high credit card balance on another card. You can transfer the card to the new card, no longer paying your high interest rate each month. This alone can save you a few hundred dollars over the course of six months or a year.