Posted by admin on Sep 5, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Low APR credit cards (APR means annual percentage rate) offer an attractive inducement for people to transfer current credit card balances to a new card and of course to a new financial institution. Because this is a highly effective marketing strategy for financial institutions, there is a lot of choice.
However, the sheer availability of low APR credit cards can present its own problems. How can you wade through so many possibilities to find the best real options for your particular needs? While an internet search will throw up hundreds of choices, without professional product knowledge it can be difficult to make a well considered decision.
A professional service that sorts through the various low APR credit cards on offer and presents a smaller but worthwhile selection can save you a lot of time. It can also protect you from making an expensive mistake. It would be especially beneficial if a reminder service was also offered to let you know when your introductory low rate period is coming to an end. This way you can transfer your balance to another low APR credit card to have to pay the normal interest rate.
Most of us wouldn’t even think about credit card hopping to avoid high interest charges, so this very service can get us thinking in a more financially beneficial direction. Even if we have seriously thought about it, time can easily get away from us and we can find ourselves out of the introductory period before we know it.
When considering low APR credit cards, look for those with the longest introductory periods, the lowest introductory interest rates (zero is best) and the lowest balance transfer costs. Once you have decided which one to apply for you can often apply online on a website offering these comprehensive services. Once approved, you can sign up for an alert to remind you to transfer the balance from your new card to another credit card offering an introductory low rate. This way you will hopefully never have to pay interest on your credit cards again.
By taking this simple step, you will be streets ahead financially and will be in a position to become debt free much sooner if you use your interest savings to pay off your credit card balance. Look for a good comprehensive all-in-one online service that will help you do this, and the process will be far easier than you can possibly imagine.
Low APR credit cards are a great way of keeping control of our finances. Remember that the banks are there to make money out of us, so we should at least attempt to save as much as we can while not spending too much time keeping tabs on what is happening behind the scenes. As always, careful financial planning is important in our daily finances, and there is no reason why we should not look after our bank balance in the same way as we look after our skin or our diets. It’s all part of living healthily.
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Posted by admin on Aug 15, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
We all know how great it is to have a credit card, we can purchase all kinds of luxury items for ourselves and then pay them off a little bit at a time every month as long as we do not mind paying the interest rates that are tacked on. With low rate credit cards, you will not be paying so much in interest payments, however, if you choose a credit card with 17 % APR then you will find yourself paying huge amounts of money in interest payments if you have any type of balance of your credit card.
The large credit card companies know this and are all fighting to give you a low APR credit card that will give you even more freedom, the problem is that you may have trouble choosing which one is best for you and your lifestyle.
American Express understands these above and beyond other credit card companies that offer low APR credit cards because they also offer a 0% introductory offer for your first 15 months, which rises to a 3.99% fixed rate after that initial period. Many companies increase the APR to 17% and beyond after the introductory period expires. Citibank is offering individuals the chance to transfer their balances to a 0% APR for 12 months and a 5% cash back with some purchases such as grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies and even a 1% cash back at all other stores. JP Morgan offers a cash back program with 0% interest for 12 months on balance transfers. These low APR credit cards can be great as long as you read the fine print and learn how long the low APR will last and what it will be once the special interest rate expires.
Remember, just because a credit card company is offering a low APR credit card, this does not mean it will always be low. There are many factors that can change the APR, such as the introductory special expiring and economic indicators, which cause the interest rate to fluctuate.
Many credit card companies that offer a low APR credit card may only have the low APR for 3 months and if you are lucky, can be as long as 15 months. Before you apply for a low APR credit card be sure to read all the terms and conditions, look for such things as the end of the introductory special, balance transfer procedures, and if there are any other membership fees, or annual fees that will be applied to your low APR credit card.
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Posted by admin on Aug 12, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Low Interest credit cards are exactly what their name suggests. They charge low rates of interest (APR). The APR is calculated in the same way as with other credit cards; this facilitates an easy comparison for an individual who is planning to switch over to these cards. Low interest credit cards are favored by individuals who habitually carry their monthly credit card balance forward. Low interest rates can lead to significant savings on financial charges.
For the introductory period, most low interest credit cards offer 0% APR; however, most credit cards offer 0% APR only for select situations such as balance transfers and major purchases. The introductory period offer can be used for consolidating multiple credit cards that charge high rates into a single low APR credit card. This helps people to reduce the financial charges associated with credit card debts and pay off the existing balances quickly. Often, low interest rate credit card companies will waive the balance transfer fee upon a client’s request. Thus, low interest rate cards with rates that can be up to 9 percentage points lower than those of other cards are a great way of saving for those inveterate shoppers who invariably end up with a monthly balance on their credit cards. It is also less taxing to take a cash advance with low interest credit cards. Individuals with poor credit scores may find themselves ineligible for low interest credit cards.
Low interest credit cards may or may not offer other advantages like cash back and travel insurance and should therefore be used with another card that does. This helps a card user to earn benefits from the other card which he may use when he does not intend to keep a balance; for other purchases, the low interest credit card can be used. It is advisable that the oldest extant credit card account that an individual has should not be closed for acquiring a low rate credit card; this is because maintaining credit accounts for long periods reflects well on the credit ratings.
There are several low interest credit cards available in the market. Individuals should do a thorough research to find a card that offers a perfect fit for their needs.
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Posted by admin on Aug 6, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Comparing low APR credit cards to all the 0 APR Credit Cards can be a long and troublesome chore and you may still have problems deciding which one to choose from. When you see all of the various incentive programs, rewards, and, of course, the 0 APR feature you may think you should jump in and get that card before the offer expires. But are the benefits really worth the price you will have to pay after the introductory offer expires or are low APR credit cards instead a better choice?
First, look at the incentive programs offered by the various companies. If you do not travel all the time, then one with rewards of air miles is one you can ignore, and so on and so forth. If you are just trying to decide on a regular credit card without all the free incentives that you can earn and you just desire to learn if low APR credit cards or 0 APR Credit Cards are better, then you can now compare these two types of offers.
So ask yourself these questions:
-Do you wish to have a credit card to purchase something expensive that you cannot afford without putting it on credit?
-How long will the 0 APR last?
-After the introductory period ends, how will the APR change?
-Are there membership fees, annual fees, etc…?
If you really need to buy something expensive then the 0% APR can look very appetizing, however if you will not be able to pay off your purchase by the end of the introductory special, you may learn that you will be paying more in the long run with higher interest rates. If you buy something expensive with a low APR credit card, of course you will have to pay interest, but the APR will not rise drastically after the introductory special. This can make a big difference if you do not pay off the debt within the timeframe of the introductory offer only to be left with a much, much higher APR to pay off. The low APR credit cards have the advantage of a sustainable APR and may even save you more money over time.
Remember, the introductory special will not last forever, most credit cards companies have introductory APR offers that last from 3 months to as long as 15 months. Then you will go to a higher APR. Therefore, low APR credit cards might, in fact, be a better solution for some consumers.
The best way to decide is to calculate the big purchase that you wish to make, see how much balance you will have left on your card when the special APR is gone and then see if it is still lower than what you will pay with low ongoing low APR credit cards.
Most importantly, regarding any credit card offer, you need to learn to ask questions and read the fine print. Are there any other fees that apply with low APR credit cards? It is always best to choose a credit with lower fees, lower interest rates and of course one that will fit your needs. Low APR credit cards do not change once the introductory time period is over which is a very big plus.
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Posted by admin on Jul 21, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
There are many different kinds of credit cards on the market today and the most sought after is the low APR credit card and with good reason. Low APR credit cards will give you the lowest interest rates throughout the year, saving you money.
In the process of finding the best low APR credit card, be sure to look for one that is suitable for you. Take a look at some of the credit cards that are on offer, so you know which ones are available to you. The low APR credit cards offer a wide range of extras including reward schemes where you get a percentage of cash back on purchases at grocery stores, bookstores and in some cases even on gasoline. You will find the cash back offers normally range between one percent and five percent.
The APR is the Annual Percentage Rate. This rate takes into account set up fees, interest rate and other factors included in the lenders agreement. It is the rate charged that you would be obliged to pay over a one year period on your low interest credit cards. It is good for the borrower as you can calculate just how much you are going to pay and if the rate offered is within your budget. The APR will vary between lenders, depending on how competitive the lender is. Lenders looking to attract new customers for their low APR credit cards may offer the best introductory rates. If you are taking out a secured loan against your property, then the APR is normally calculated in relation to the sum you are borrowing in comparison to your property’s value. This means you may not qualify to get the lower rates on offer. Also if you have had difficulty obtaining credit, or a poor credit rating in the past, then it is unlikely you will be offered the low interest credit cards.
Some low interest credit cards offer a permanent low rate. Other low APR credit cards give you an introductory offer where you get a lower rate for a fixed period of time, maybe six to nine months. As an example you may get a card with a six months 5% APR, then a 12% APR thereafter. This means for the first six months you will only be charged an annual interest rate of 5% on your balance, or purchases. However any purchases or balances that are outstanding after six months will be charged at a rate of 12%.
A low APR credit card is used by many people to make large purchases. They take advantage of the low rate offered, so they can have a few months to pay off the balance. Using your low interest credit cards this way can save you quite a lot of money. It is important however to fully read and understand the terms of the introductory rate offered. You don’t want to end up by paying interest or fees you don’t need to.
The best offer that a lender will give you is of course 0% APR rather than just the low interest credit cards. Many offer this for an introductory period only. Don’t just jump in and sign an agreement with a company because they offer 0% APR. Always take into consideration what their normal rate is going to be. It is this rate you are going to pay interest on, so you don’t want the permanent APR to be too high.
If you already have credit cards it may still be well worth looking at changing to another low APR credit card. Many lenders will let you transfer the balance from your current low APR credit cards to a new card. You may be able to save a lot of money by doing this, if the rates are lower than you are currently paying. There is nothing to stop you changing every time your low interest credit cards introductory rate is about to finish, and is well worth considering.
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