When you are questioning “What credit card should I get?” you may need help sorting through all of the options on the market. It can be difficult to decipher the terms in even “consumer friendly” credit offers, considering how shrouded in legalese credit card terms and conditions usually are. Knowing first and foremost what is important to you in a credit card is the best way … [Read more...]
Living Without Credit Cards – Can You Do It?
Credit cards are so ubiquitous that it’s easy to forget that they are a relatively recent invention. Although the concept of credit is hundreds of years old, the credit card as we know it did not become available until well into the 20th century. The first credit card was believed to be the Charg-It card, which was a local use card introduced in 1946. That paved the way for the … [Read more...]
Are Reward Credit Cards Worth It? How to Tell If You’re Getting a Good Deal
As I mentioned earlier this year, common credit card mistakes can easily erase the benefits offered by any credit card, including rewards cards. So are reward credit cards worth it? The short answer is that they can be, as long as you use the card wisely and choose the card that’s right for your spending habits. The question “Are rewards cards worth it?” is bound to come up … [Read more...]
What Is a Virtual Credit Card? 5 Tips To Use Over The Holidays
The holidays are quickly approaching, and online virtual credit card ads are already cropping up – but what is a virtual credit card? Also called single use credit cards, these cards are temporary credit card numbers typically tied to a credit card that you already own. The reason for using a temporary number is to thwart identity thieves; if a thief attempts to use that … [Read more...]
Credit Card Privacy Laws – How They Affect You
Credit card privacy laws are meant to protect consumers, but thanks to corporate lobbying these laws do not always go as far as they should. There are also many loopholes in credit card laws that allow credit card companies to use your information in ways that you might not expect. This is why it is important to read the credit card privacy policy for every credit card that … [Read more...]
Paying Off Credit Cards with Credit Cards –The Worst Financial Mistake
Those who are new to credit or have used credit cards traditionally for a long time might wonder, “Can I pay my credit card with another credit card?” Actually, you can; regulations force creditors to accept virtually any reasonable method of payment by consumers. However, my question to you is: Why would you want to? Paying off credit cards with credit cards only moves … [Read more...]
Credit Card Fraud – 6 Ways to Potentially Avoid It
With millions upon millions of Americans carrying around a credit card, many often don’t think twice when they swipe that piece of plastic. Sure, while most credit card companies won’t hold you liable for purchases you didn’t make, that doesn’t mean the scam artists can’t take advantage of you. What you have to understand is that when a bad charge shows up on your … [Read more...]
Credit Card Fees: What Are They And How Can You Avoid Them
I was reading Robin Askwith’s autobiography recently. Apart from laughing out loud at the many exploits which he got up to when shooting the Confessions… films, Robin made a point about an American Express card which he was given that was soon spent on buying a ticket to a far-flung country. Robin said that he expected to be given a bill one day which, undoubtedly, might incur … [Read more...]
Credit Card Mistakes People Make – And How To Avoid Them
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2009 156 million Americans held one or more credit cards, and that number is projected to hit 160 million by the end of this year. These cards represented $886 billion in debt in 2009, a huge increase since 2000 when credit card debt was estimated at $680 billion. Carrying debt on a credit card is only one of the credit card mistakes we … [Read more...]
How to Check A Credit Card Statement in 6 Easy Steps
You might think that with today’s technology, credit card statement errors would be a thing of the past, but in many ways technology makes it easier for errors to slip by unnoticed. Most of these errors are unintentional, such as being overcharged at a merchant or a mathematical mistake on your last payment, but an unintentional error can still cost you money. That’s why it’s … [Read more...]
