If you are looking for a new credit card in the next few months then the likelihood is that you will be paying particular attention to the wealth of interest free credit cards out there. Interest free credit cards are the subjects of much interest today for a huge variety of reasons, but none more so than the fact that more and more individuals are looking for a viable debt solution and they believe that interest free credit cards are the answer! Whilst they may well help debt levels, there is more to the average interest free balance transfer or purchase credit card than meets the eye.
For the rest of the article, go to The Value Of Interest Free Crdit Cards
Monday, 30 June 2008
Thursday, 26 June 2008
A Quick Guide To The Factors You Should Consider When Choosing A Credit Card
As previously discussed, picking the right credit card is an important decision that can financially impact you in a negative wasy if are not careful. Here are some reasons why you have to be so selective when doing so.
Some charge very large interest rates.
If you not careful about which card you choose, you could end up with one that charges 15% or more on charges. Run up a bill on that kind of interest and you'll be twice as much to the credit card companies than you probably should be paying.
They encourage you to spend more money.
It doesn't seem like your spending money when you're just signing for something, but that will all change when the bill arrives. Since you have ability to run up more debt, picking a card with a low credit limit is generally a good idea.
Fine print.
Be prepared to read pages of fine print that sometimes only a lawyer can translate. That great offer with 0.0% interest for the first 6 months probably has some major drawbacks once that introductory period has finished. Read carefully and that should help you make an informed decision.
Hidden fees.
Credit card companies love to charge fees. Especially annual fees, late payment fees, balance transfer fees and basically anything else they can think of. The only way to be sure to avoid them is to go through all of the fine print and learn all aspects of the offer before you sign up.
Find one that fits your needs.
With so many offers out there, there's no reason to settle on the first one that lands in your mailbox. Shop around and look for an offer that's a good fit, then seek an application from them. Taking whatever card you’re pre-approved of is very risky.
It's all about the perks.
Some cards offer rewards and cash-back bonuses. If you look hard enough, you'll find a deal that will get you something extra for your time and money. Still, don’t expect to take advantage of this without having to read any additional fine print.
Traveling abroad is not always a given.
Not every card is accepted all over the globe and most banks charge 1-3% for a currency exchange. Most cards will work at ATMs overseas and get you whatever type of cash or coin needed, but prepared to see hidden charges. Look over your card policy paperwork before heading to the airport.
Some charge very large interest rates.
If you not careful about which card you choose, you could end up with one that charges 15% or more on charges. Run up a bill on that kind of interest and you'll be twice as much to the credit card companies than you probably should be paying.
They encourage you to spend more money.
It doesn't seem like your spending money when you're just signing for something, but that will all change when the bill arrives. Since you have ability to run up more debt, picking a card with a low credit limit is generally a good idea.
Fine print.
Be prepared to read pages of fine print that sometimes only a lawyer can translate. That great offer with 0.0% interest for the first 6 months probably has some major drawbacks once that introductory period has finished. Read carefully and that should help you make an informed decision.
Hidden fees.
Credit card companies love to charge fees. Especially annual fees, late payment fees, balance transfer fees and basically anything else they can think of. The only way to be sure to avoid them is to go through all of the fine print and learn all aspects of the offer before you sign up.
Find one that fits your needs.
With so many offers out there, there's no reason to settle on the first one that lands in your mailbox. Shop around and look for an offer that's a good fit, then seek an application from them. Taking whatever card you’re pre-approved of is very risky.
It's all about the perks.
Some cards offer rewards and cash-back bonuses. If you look hard enough, you'll find a deal that will get you something extra for your time and money. Still, don’t expect to take advantage of this without having to read any additional fine print.
Traveling abroad is not always a given.
Not every card is accepted all over the globe and most banks charge 1-3% for a currency exchange. Most cards will work at ATMs overseas and get you whatever type of cash or coin needed, but prepared to see hidden charges. Look over your card policy paperwork before heading to the airport.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Saving Money For The Summer
Although the majority of my posts are about credit cards, personal loans and getting out of debt, I thought I'd write a different post today. One about making a little money to enjoy your summer with and offering a few tips on where to go to sell old stuff that you no longer want or need!
Myself and my husband are going to Italy in a few weeks to celebrate our year wedding anniversary and I can't wait. I need a break so much at the moment. I've been working 18 hours a day to try and get enough money together to pay the bills in recent weeks! We realised that we probably wouldn't have as much spending money as we'd have liked for our vacation and brainstormed what we could do to earn a little extra.
We came across quite a lot of stuff in the spare room that could be sold, including several old computer games that my husband doesn't play on anymore. I sold 5 of them last week and got £65 for them. That was through Amazon. We tried getting them valued at a games store and they offered nowhere near that amount so sell your stuff online if you want to maximise profit! We all know how good eBay is for selling stuff, but try Amazon if you have books, CDs and DVDs to sell because I guarantee you'll get more for them.
We're also heading to a car boot sale with the rest of the stuff in a couple of weeks. Now is the time with the sunshine and the dry weather. I have loads of childrens books that I could get rid of as well as odds and ends that are just cluttering up the house. A sale is a quick and easy way of decluttering your home and maxmising your chances of making a little money!
Myself and my husband are going to Italy in a few weeks to celebrate our year wedding anniversary and I can't wait. I need a break so much at the moment. I've been working 18 hours a day to try and get enough money together to pay the bills in recent weeks! We realised that we probably wouldn't have as much spending money as we'd have liked for our vacation and brainstormed what we could do to earn a little extra.
We came across quite a lot of stuff in the spare room that could be sold, including several old computer games that my husband doesn't play on anymore. I sold 5 of them last week and got £65 for them. That was through Amazon. We tried getting them valued at a games store and they offered nowhere near that amount so sell your stuff online if you want to maximise profit! We all know how good eBay is for selling stuff, but try Amazon if you have books, CDs and DVDs to sell because I guarantee you'll get more for them.
We're also heading to a car boot sale with the rest of the stuff in a couple of weeks. Now is the time with the sunshine and the dry weather. I have loads of childrens books that I could get rid of as well as odds and ends that are just cluttering up the house. A sale is a quick and easy way of decluttering your home and maxmising your chances of making a little money!
Saturday, 14 June 2008
How To Compare Credit Cards Without Losing Your Head!
If you intend to compare credit cards before you apply for and take out a new one then you are extremely likely to get confused! This is an absolute fact! There are so many credit card elements to look at when you compare credit cards that it is impossible for you to retain all of the information that you need in order to make the right decision! How ever, if you stick to the quick check list below then you will have the best credit cards at your fingertips within moments!
*This is the introduction of a helpful article. To read the rest, please click here.
*This is the introduction of a helpful article. To read the rest, please click here.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
The Plight Of Homeowners
News broke today that has basically shattered my dream of owning my own home within the next three years or so.
According to figures released by the UK Council of Mortgage Lenders today, 23,200 are facing negative equity when their current deals run out. All of those people, which is 2.5% of the total of mortgages taken out between April 2007 and March 2008, have 100 percent mortgages. This spells further trouble for the housing market because, although more houses will be going up for sale, the likelihood is that mortgage rates will go up to cover the deficit (as two providers did last week) and fewer first time buyers will be able to get on the housing ladder.
I am one of those people. I have never owned my own home, but I do want to. I hate the house we live in at the moment and am sick of renting, but our previous credit scoring and level of debt has prevented us from obtaining a mortgage. Now we would be foolish to invest in our own property. Although we did plan to save for a deposit and will continue to do so, it may just be in vain.
I actually wrote an obituary for the 100 percent mortgage last week, which seems a little ironic now given the news today. The full article can be found here: Credit Crunch Kills 100 Percent Mortgage.
Barring a miracle, I think it is a fair assumption that the dark financial days are here to stay for a while!
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Go Cheap For Father's Day
With Father's Day looming on the horizon, I started to think about what I was going to get my dad this year. With very little spare cash and a major reluctance to put anything on my credit card, I don't have many options. Luckily enough, my dad is a complete and utter technophobe. He can just about switch the PC on but when it comes to anything else technologically advanced forget it! Gadgets just don't interest him at all. This narrows down my options somewhat but makes it a lot cheaper.
I had no idea what to get him at all until I had a brainwave. I have loads of photos from my wedding in Sorrento, Italy last year, some of which are great photos of us as a family. I've blown one of them up for him, which cost me around £3, and bought a nice frame in a bargain shop for £3. I've also made plans to cook my parents a Father's Day dinner. All in all, I'll probably spend around £10 and he'll definitely appreciate the gesture. I'm really looking forward to it!
Father's Day is about family and need not break the bank. My dad will appreciate the personal touch a lot more than a useless present that he's never going to use so I've saved money but will please him regardless. To pull out a cliche, everyone's a winner!
If you're struggling for ideas then take a look at an article I wrote about Father's Day gift ideas. You can find it at this link. It just might inspire you!
I had no idea what to get him at all until I had a brainwave. I have loads of photos from my wedding in Sorrento, Italy last year, some of which are great photos of us as a family. I've blown one of them up for him, which cost me around £3, and bought a nice frame in a bargain shop for £3. I've also made plans to cook my parents a Father's Day dinner. All in all, I'll probably spend around £10 and he'll definitely appreciate the gesture. I'm really looking forward to it!
Father's Day is about family and need not break the bank. My dad will appreciate the personal touch a lot more than a useless present that he's never going to use so I've saved money but will please him regardless. To pull out a cliche, everyone's a winner!
If you're struggling for ideas then take a look at an article I wrote about Father's Day gift ideas. You can find it at this link. It just might inspire you!
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