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Credit Cards 101

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Credit Cards 101

What is a credit card?

A credit card is a line of revolving credit issued to you based on your credit report and FICO score by a bank or other financial institution.


How do credit cards work? 

Every time you make a purchase on your credit card, you are telling the bank who issued the card to you, that you will pay them back at a later date, or over a period of time.  If you do not pay them back when they send you the first bill, they will add interest to the amount every month that you carry the balance with them.


What is interest?

With credit cards,  interest is the percentage of money the credit card issuer will charge you on the amount of purchases you have made.  This amount will be added every month that you do not pay your balance in full.  This is why the interest rate is so important when getting a credit card. 


You may search for a low interest credit card online and compare credit cards side by side.  Once you find the one with the lowest interest rates available today, you can apply online in just a few quick minutes.


What are some tips for choosing the right credit card?

Make sure that the credit card meets your spending needs.  It should offer the lowest possible interest rates available for you, and your credit score.  Another thing to take into consideration when choosing a credit card is what they offer back to you for using their card.  This will often be in the form of cash-back on purchases or reward points that can be redeemed for discounts on merchandise.  If you are planning to buy a new car in the future, check out the GM card, as they have a nice plan available to reduce the cost of your new vehicle.


How many credit cards should one person have?

This will vary depending on your income and your personal budget.  If you have more credit than you can afford to repay, based on your income, it may do harm to your credit rating.  This is something that should be taken into consideration when applying for credit cards.  Also remember that the more credit cards you have, the more chances you have to make a late payment due to an overlooked bill.


Where do I find credit cards to apply for?

Many websites are available today that compare credit cards making it easy for you to find one that is perfect for you without even leaving home. Creditcards8 is my personal favorite for comparing credit cards and applying online.


What is the application process for getting a credit card?

Applying is easy and can be done online in most instances.  They will ask you for personal information to help the bank determine whether you would be a good candidate for lending money to.  This is a normal process and you should disclose everything to them so that they can determine a credit limit that you can easily repay within your budget.

 
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