Tips and Techniques for Applying for Credit Cards

The biggest factors you need to consider when applying for a credit card are (1) interest rate; (2) fees; and (3) terms. In addition to these important considerations, you need to gauge whether you need more credit or whether your current credit score will allow you to obtain a particular credit card. If you have never had a credit card before, you may not be able to get the best credit card available. The same is true if you have bad credit and/or a low credit score. However, this does not mean that you have to settle for a bad credit card.

If you currently own a credit card and want another card so that you can increase your purchasing power, increase your credit to debt ratio, and/or get a new card with better terms, a better interest rate, and/or a better fee schedule, you possess the power to find a great card with great terms, interest rates, and fees.

The first thing you need to look at is the interest rate of your prospective credit card. A low, fixed rate should be your priority. However, you may not be able to find a fixed rate credit card. If such is the case, look for a low, adjustable rate but make sure that the interest rate on the credit card, although adjustable, cannot exceed 9.99%. If the adjustable rate that you are looking at can possibly go over 9.99%, do not get the card. The lower the interest rate on your prospective credit card, the better. However, do not pay an annual fee or other fees in order to get that lower interest rate.

An annual fee is the worst thing you can have on your credit card. The fee simply does not make sense. Basically, you are paying a credit card company solely because you own the credit card regardless of whether or not you actually use the card. You should never pay for something unless you use it. As such, why should you pay for carrying a piece of plastic in your wallet or purse? The point is, avoid annual fees. It is important to remember, however, that some fees (such as late fees, over the limit fees, etc.) are unavoidable because every credit card on earth will have such fees. However, this does not mean that all of the fees are the same. As such, obtain a credit card with no annual fee and the lowest "unavoidable" fees.

You credit card terms are also very important. Credit card terms include the grace period between payments, rewards programs, and customer service. The longer the grace period between payments, the better. Some credit cards have 20 day grace periods while others have 30. Obviously, having an additional 10 days to pay your credit card bill can help. Rewards programs can also be good because you can accumulate points from purchases for travel or products, get cash back on the total amount of your charges, and/or get tickets to concerts and events.

Search for a low, fixed rate credit card. If, however, you cannot find a fixed rate credit card, look for an adjustable rate card that cannot go over 9.99%. Never get a card with an annual fee and try to get the lowest "unavoidable" fees that you can find. Last, look for good terms such as long grace periods and a good rewards program. Following these tips will help you get a great credit card

Tips for Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Credit cards have become an integral part in the financial lives of many people. If used properly, a credit card can be a great financial asset that assists you (assist by way of a good credit score not by way of purchasing power) in making big purchases and enabling you to get important loans. However, if abused, credit cards can make your financial life a living nightmare. As such, always practice sound credit card and debt management. That being said, it is important to note that not all credit cards are created equally.

Companies are doing everything these days to entice people into obtaining a credit card. For example, many companies will offer no interest on cash advances, balance transfer, or purchases for the first year that you own the credit card. Some companies offer a great introductory interest rate and follow that up with a low, fixed interest rate. Still other credit card companies offer rewards in the form of points or airline miles that can be redeemed once the credit card owner obtains enough points. Of all of these rewards, airline miles can be the most beneficial.

If you are the kind of person that uses a credit card for one particular task (e.g., getting gas for your car/truck), a rewards card may be a great option for you. A rewards card is a great option because your credit card use is going to continue regardless. As such, why not get rewarded in more than one way for consistent and proper use?

With the price of fuel increasing and airlines going out of business, it seems that the average airline ticket has greatly increased in price. Additionally, things that used to be complimentary (e.g., an in-flight beverage, checking more than two pieces of luggage, and an in-flight snack, to name a few) now cost money. As such, using points to get discounts on or even free airline tickets, hotel rooms, and/or rental cars (especially if you travel a lot) can save you a lot of money. Therefore, a travel rewards card may be in your best interest.

Basically, a travel rewards card works the same as a "points" rewards card. Each dollar spent equals a certain amount of travel points. Once you have accumulated a predetermined amount of travel points, you can redeem them for flights, hotel rooms, and/or rental cars. However, if you get a travel rewards card, you still have to make sure it is a good credit card. For example, you should not pay an annual fee simply because it is a rewards card. Additionally, the rewards card interest rate should not be higher than your other credit cards merely because it is a rewards card.

Do not fall into the trap of paying too much for a rewards card merely because it offers rewards. Make sure that there is no annual fee, a low interest rate, and that the points can be redeemed for any flight at any time (i.e., no blackout dates). If your rewards card has these attributes, you will have added a great credit card to your financial arsenal.

Tips for Obtaining Credit Cards With Bad Credit

If you have bad credit, you probably should not be obtaining a credit card. As is evident by your credit score, you have gotten in trouble with debt in the past and may not have acquired the education necessary to avoid this trap again in the future. That being said, if you are adamant about obtaining a credit card for whatever your reason, there are some things you should know.

First and foremost, because you have bead credit, you are in a weaker bargaining position. As such, you may have to accept some terms on your credit card that you should not ordinarily accept. One such term is a high interest rate. However, this does not mean that you should pay the highest interest rate possible. If the credit card you are looking at has an interest rate at twenty percent (20%) of higher, walk away from the credit card offer. Regardless of the level of your need for a credit card, obtaining a card at twenty percent (20%) interest or more, even with bad credit, is pure lunacy. If you were to make a purchase with such a card, absent you paying off the outstanding balance once the bill arrived, you would be throwing money away.

Another concession you may have to make, and not a bad one at that, is that you may have to settle for a card with a lower credit line. Based upon the severity of the negative information in your credit report and your credit score, you may be approved for something as small as a three hundred dollar ($300) credit line. This is a very small credit line that probably will not do much for your situation, but the good news is that such a small credit line will also help protect against you accumulating too much debt.

Regardless of how low your credit score is and how much negative information is in your credit report, you should always avoid secured credit cards. Secured credit cards are basically credit-debit cards. With secured credit cards, you have to deposit a certain sum of money with the bank (for example, $500) that issued the credit card. This deposit becomes your credit line and you charge purchases based upon your deposit. However, instead of paying off the purchase from your deposit, the bank sends you a bill. Your deposit money simply sits there, not collecting interest and not helping your situation. Additionally, secured credit cards usually have ridiculous fees (such as account set-up fees, annual fees, program fees, and account maintenance fees, to name a few), which do nothing but cost you money, and extremely high interest rates. The bottom lines is that even though secured credit cards may help to rebuild your credit, because of the enormous amount of fees and the extremely high interest rates, it may be better for you to wait the seven (7) to ten (10) years it takes for negative information to be removed from your credit report instead of getting the secured credit card.

If you have bad credit, know that you may have to pay a higher interest rate and may have a lower credit line. However, you should stay clear of secured credit cards because the small benefit your credit report receives from using such a card does not make up for the enormous amount of money that these cards cost.

How to Find "No Fee" Credit Cards

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when obtaining a credit card is to obtain one with unnecessary fees. The most common "unnecessary fee" that people pay is an annual fee. An annual fee is a fee that a credit card company charges cardholders once per year merely because they own the card. Regardless of whether you actually use the credit card, you are charged this yearly fee.

The biggest problem that I have with annual fees is that they are nonsense fees. Paying the fee does not get you a better interest rate. It does not help you get better service or discounts on merchandise. As such, you pay this fee for no other reason but for the fact that you own the card. That is like paying an extra $50 per year on your cellular phone bill merely because you own a cellular phone. With so many other credit card options available, paying unnecessary fees (like an annual fee) is not a smart proposition. As such, where can you find no fee credit cards?

The best place to start is at your local bank. Banks usually have great credit cards with no annual fee. To further refine your search for the best "no fee" credit card, start at banks with which you already have an established relationship (i.e., already have a checking account, savings account, etc.) because you may find better deals and credit card offers that are not advertised to the general public.

Another great place to find a "no fee" credit card is on the Internet. However, you have to be cautious where you look. Randomly searching Internet websites is not only dangerous (because you will have to divulge private, financial information in order to apply for the credit card), it is also inefficient. The best place to start searching on the Internet is on the major credit card websites (e.g., Visa.com, MasterCard.com, DiscoverCard.com, AmericanExpress.com, etc.) because they offer many different products that can be easily compared. Additionally, these major credit card websites have many security precautions and thus, you can rest assured that should you apply for one of their cards, your information will be safe.

When applying for a "no fee" card, make sure that the card is truly "no fee." One thing that some banks like to do is state that their credit card has no annual fee when in fact it does have such a fee. For example, during your search you may come across a credit card offer that states that there is no annual fee "as long as you make at least one purchase per year using that card." And, in the event you do not make a purchase, there is a fee of X amount of dollars. This kind of "no fee" card does in fact contain a fee. Forcing you to make a purchase is the same as charging an annual fee. Do not fall into this trap and avoid these cards.

Remember, you have several options. Therefore, do not take the first credit card offer you receive. Look around, do some comparative shopping, and find the best no fee, low interest credit card for your needs.

How to Get a Credit Card in a Tight Credit Market

Getting a credit card in a good economy is a very easy task. In a good economy, companies will extend you credit even if you have a poor credit score. The credit these companies extend will not be good (i.e., the credit card will have numerous fees and an extremely high interest rate), but these companies will still be willing to hand out credit cards. However, in a down economy, credit cards are not as easy to come by.

Companies are less likely to overlook credit score mishaps when evaluating whether to approve you for a credit card. Due to this fact, how do you get a credit card in a tight credit market?

The simplest and most obvious answer to this question is to repair your credit if you have bad credit. Repairing your credit will not only enable you to have a better chance of obtaining credit in a tight credit market, it will also help you in the long run to obtain a loan for a big purchase (e.g., a home, car, etc.) and/or a big event (e.g., a wedding, college education, etc.). As such, cleaning up your credit is one of the best things you can do for your financial future. Coincidentally, repairing your credit will also help you get a credit card in a down economy.

Another way to obtain a credit card in a tight credit market is to shop around at various banks, banking institutions, and financial institutions. Even if the general consensus is that the credit market as a whole is "tight," this does not mean that every credit granting institution is cutting back or otherwise curtailing their credit card business. You may have to look to uncommon banks or financial institutions, but you should be able to find a company that is willing to give you a credit card.

Talking to banks with which you already have a relationship can also help you get a credit card in a tight credit market. In a down economy, banks are more willing to extend credit to customers that have an established track record with that bank. However, this does not mean that new customers have no options. Banks will often offer new customers a deal (such as offering a credit card when that person opens a checking account) to entice such customers into becoming long term clients.

There are many things you can do to get a credit card in a tight credit market. It is important, however, to note that you should not settle for a bad credit card merely because the credit market is "tight." If you are in the market for a credit card and it does not seem that any good credit terms exist on any credit card offers you have investigated, you should reevaluate your need for a credit card at that particular moment. If your credit issues are more of a "want" than a "need," wait until things get better before getting a credit card. If, however, the opposite is true, make sure you pick the better of the two evils.