Monday, December 2, 2013

Charge Cards And Personal Finance: Tips For Finding Balance

By Dan Annweiler


Charge cards are usually associated with high interest rates and bad spending decisions. If used properly, a credit card can offer benefits and more. To find out what bank cards can do for you, continue reading this article for advice.

Charge cards often lure in new users with bonuses and gifts for signing up. Make sure that you're fully aware of what's in the fine print, as bonuses offered by credit card companies often have strict requirements. A common requirement is to spend enough on the card within a short period of time. Only apply for the card if you expect to meet the level of spending needed to get the bonus.

Keep track of your purchases made by credit card to make sure that you do not spend more than you can afford. If you do not consistently write down every single credit card purchase, you can easily lose track of how much you have spent and the new balance on your statement will come as quite a shock.

If you are looking for a secure card, try to stay away from a prepaid card. These are not actually reported to the big credit bureaus and are really just debit cards in disguise. Most of them charge you with extra fees, and they only function as another checking account. Get a proper secured credit card by parting with a few hundred bucks for the deposit. These proper secured bank cards will help you to improve your credit rating, as they are reported to the major credit bureaus.

Do not let anyone borrow your credit card. It could be your close friend, but it's still a bad idea to give it to someone. That can lead to charges for over-limit spending, should your friend charge more than you've authorized.

Don't make any credit purchases with suspicious vendors. If there is a telephone number on the site, call the number to be sure it is legitimate. You should avoid any merchant that doesn't list an actual physical address. That is a big red flag.

Try the out-of-sight-is-out-of-mind technique. Place charge cards in a hidden section of your wallet rather than in the front. That way, even if you are rushed or focusing on something else, you will probably use a debit card rather than charging something accidentally.

Never close the account. Although you may think doing this will help you raise your credit score, it can actually lower it. This is the case because closing a credit card account results in a lower amount of total credit for you, and that means that you will have a lower ratio between your total credit and the amount you owe.

Remember to occasionally use the charge cards that you want to keep. Many creditors close account that are inactive for lengthy periods of time. Using your card every once in a while and paying it on time will ensure that the account remains open. Even if they are just small charges, do not forget that you have to pay them off so you will remain debt free.

Now it is probably clear that credit card usage can help people as they work on building up their credit history and taking control of their money. Understanding each credit card is important, because this helps make better choices. With the information in this article, you should be better armed to avoid the dangers bank cards can pose.




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