October 28, 2008
A charge card is a credit card that must be paid in full when the bill comes. Instead of a minimum payment and the option to roll your balance over from month to month, the balance on a charge card is due all at once each month. This is similar to many other bills, such as an electric bill, cable bill, or rent payment. Some charge cards don’t have a pre-set spending limit. This means that the card issuer has not assigned a specific limit to your account. While this does not mean that you can spend a million dollars on the card, it does give you a bit of flexibility.
There are two important things to keep in mind when using a charge card with no pre-set spending limit. The first is that you may have to get permission before you can complete large purchases, which can be time consuming and even embarrassing for some, especially if the charge is declined. Second is that you will have to pay the entire bill when it comes, so make sure that you can cover all purchases that you make instead of going wild just because you have no pre-set limit.
There are some great things about having a charge card as opposed to a credit card. This first is that you don’t have to constantly deal with interest and interest rates; but, if you default on a payment, the card issuer may add interest to the balance until you pay it off. This is why it is good to know the potential interest rate on the card, even though it is a charge card.
Another great thing is that you won’t put yourself further and further into debt on the card. You know that the balance is due and if you don’t pay the balance, you have a good shot at having your card shut down. This is a lot different than credit cards that allow you to pay a small minimum payment, allow you to keep using the card, and keep piling more and more interest onto your debt.
So, a charge card can help you stay out of major debt (unless you go on a shopping spree one month and your card issuer does not decline the card at some point) and can help you learn to manage your finances, since you will have to learn to spend what you are able to pay back and pay the bill in full each month. These are two great financial advantages that will help you down the road. Even so, a charge card can offer you more than that.
Many charge cards also have a rewards program, just as many credit cards do. A charge card rewards program also works just like any other credit card rewards program. The charge card reward you receive will depend on your preferences and the reward selection offered by your charge card company.
American Express offers several great charge cards, some of which also offer a charge card rewards program. Two of their most popular charge cards are the American Express Preferred Rewards Green card and the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card. Both of these cards offer a great charge card rewards program.
With the American Express Preferred Rewards Green card, you can earn one reward point for every dollar you spend. You can then take those points and trade them in for things like frequent flyer miles, which is one mile per point (so you will basically get one mile for every dollar you spend). They even give out bonus points after the first purchase when they have a promotion running.
The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card also offers a variety of great rewards for you to take advantage of. They even offer some rewards that are exclusively for Preferred Rewards Gold cardholders through their Gold Card Event program. The events that are part of this rewards program are not offered to American Express Preferred Rewards Green cardholders or through any of their other rewards programs.
Both cards also offer services that help protect you, your card, merchandise that is purchased with your American Express card, and your money. Such programs include fraud protection, to ensure that you will not be held liable for unauthorized purchases made with your card and the Purchase Protection Plan, which will protect you if an item that is purchased with your American Express card is stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase. So, what can be better than all of that? The fact that they don’t put a cap on how many points you can earn each year, as some credit card rewards programs will, and your points never expire. This means that you can continue to accumulate points for the rewards you want, no matter how long it takes you.
October 24, 2008
This is a story that cuts to the core of the major problems of debt in the US. There are a number of people who believe credit card debt will take care of itself. NO! Credit card debt can stay with you for a very long time and may even cause some individuals to file bankruptcy. Compounding bad decision after bad decision can lead to an outcome just like this mother of 6 who couldn’t stop spending.
The Oprah show did a special on money issues and presented the TV audience with this mother of 6, Felice, and her husband, Phil. Her bad decisions of spending led her to lie about the amount of debt she was accumulating.
“Felice spends nearly $60 a week on tanning and manicures. ‘I take care of the bills, so my husband doesn’t realize how much money I’ve spent on hair and nails and extensions. I know I’ve probably spent $3-4,000 just on the cost of the extensions in the last two years.’”
Credit debt can lead to larger, life changing problems if people are not careful. Being smart about spending is definitely a first step towards getting your debt in control. Don’t get wrapped up in uncontrollable monthly payments. Felice offers a good example of uncontrollable monthly payments.
“Phil and Felice really have $135,000 in credit card debt. They also pay $1,700 a month for their three cars. Their two mortgages total $658,000. Because their mortgage is a negative amortized loan, the mortgage will increase by $20,000 every year.”
The point is to keep your spending in control, keep your monthly payment amount in control and keep yourself in control of your financial future.
If you feel that your debt is getting out of control, don’t hesitate to Consolidate Your Debt. It is a good start to getting your finances back on track.
Read the Complete Story from the Oprah Website
October 18, 2008
A credit card is something that you should not look at lightly. When you are looking for a Capital One credit card Issuer, you should be ready to have a credit card, and you should know all that there is to know about the credit card you are getting so that you aren’t taken by surprise when it comes to any issues regarding a credit card. Also, you should make sure that you are in the right place financially to have a credit card so that you can make your payments on time.
The first thing that you have to ask yourself when you are looking for a Capital One credit card issuer is if you are ready to have a one. There are many different issues that will come into focus here. First of all, have you taken the time to read all of the fine print that comes along with your credit card? Are you ready for the responsibility that will be paying off a credit card, or dealing with credit card debt? Are you in good control of your finances as a whole?
Next, you should make sure that you understand what a credit card is. A Capital One credit card issuer is going to issue you a credit card, which is going to be similar to a bank loan. With a credit card, you will have a set amount of money that is called your credit card limit. You will be able to make purchases with your credit card. After you have made these credit card purchases, you will still be responsible for paying the money back. You will not have to pay it back all at once, though. The reason that people get credit cards through a Capital One credit card issuer is that they can pay back their credit card purchases in small increments. This means that you can make large purchases and pay them back little by little. Many people get credit cards from a Capital One credit card issuer because doing this allows them to be able to buy things that they wouldn’t normally be able to buy.
Even though it seems like it is a good deal all of the time, you want to remember that the credit card is going to have an interest rate, which does mean that you will end up paying more money for your items than you did. Many people choose to use credit cards even with the interest rate because they simply want to be able to purchase these items. However, you will have to pay for the privilege of using the credit card issuer’s money.
After you are sure that you are ready for a Capital One credit card, you are going to want to find a Capital One credit card Issuer that can get you the type of card that you are looking for. There are some things that you want to keep in mind as you are looking for your Capital One credit card Issuer. First of all, find one that can answer all of your questions. Also, be sure that the issuer that you find is willing to talk to you about any issues you have with your credit cards once you have them.
Next, you want to be sure that you find a Capital One credit card issuer that is able to give you all of the details about rewards programs and deals that might be currently going on with Capital One credit cards. Be sure that the issuer you go with is going to adhere to the different deals that are going on, because you want to be sure that you and your card are included in all of these. This is also a good time to see how well the issuer is going to answer your questions.
Lastly, when you have found a Capital One credit card issuer and have been approved for a Capital One Card, there are some things that you want to remember. Always pay your bills on time, and always adhere to the different limits and regulations that the issuer has for the card and the types of cards that might be using. You want to be sure that the credit card is always working in your advantage, and this should be something that you remember to focus on as much as possible. It is always possible for you to benefit from your credit card, and if you are using them wisely you will find that not only will they be able to work for you, but you will be able to benefit from making the purchases with your credit cards that you might otherwise be unable to make. You want to be sure that you can have the convenience of making purchases that you need and want to make with the freedom to pay these back slowly without putting your financial health at risk. This is what a Capital One credit card issuer can do for you.
October 12, 2008
Bank of America® has a great offer for students to get some FREE CASH! New applicants will now receive a $25 statement credit after qualifying transactions. Who doesn’t want free money from their credit card.
Students definitely can use free money when it comes to purchasing books, food or general things to have a good time! Bank of America understands the needs to get the most for your credit card and want to give the holder all the opportunity to do so. If you are a student, this credit card can be a perfect match for you.
Below are a list of the current features offered by the Student Platinum Plus® Visa® Credit Card:
- Receive a $25 Statement Credit After Qualifying Transactions
- No Cosigner Required
- No Annual fee
- Online Banking Service
- Total Security Protection®
- Card Issued by FIA Card Services, N.A.
Students should take advantage of this offer right in time for the holidays. What better gift then getting your own free $25 when purchasing gifts for your loved ones! All the details are below to apply for this credit card.
October 11, 2008
People who love shopping often and charging their purchases to a credit card should consider obtaining a retail credit card. Retail credit cards are usually issued by a retail store in partnership with Visa or MasterCard. The retail credit card is another incentive, other than gift-with-purchase or seasonal sales, that retailers offer to their loyal customers for their patronage. Consumers can enjoy various types of bonuses through the constant use of a retail credit card.
The most common form of bonus that a consumer receives from a retail credit card is a discount on purchases of normal priced items made at the store when the purchase is charged to the retail credit card issued by the store. Some stores also have additional discounts on items with discounted prices charged to the retail credit card issued by the store. In this way, the consumer is able to save a considerable amount of money on purchases when purchases are regularly charged to the retail credit card.
A further bonus presented by a retail credit card is a gift redemption scheme offered by the store to consumers who use a retail credit card issued by the store. Points are awarded by the store for the amount of purchase made on the retail credit card. These points can be accumulated for redeeming a selection of gifts at the store. The system for awarding points varies from each store: while one store awards one point for each dollar spent at the store, another store may award one point either for every five dollars spent or for every 10 dollars spent. The types of gifts available for redemption also vary from each store. The items include a variety of home appliances, house care products, gasoline, stationery and jewelry. In some cases, the points accumulated on the retail credit card can also be redeemed for products, gift certificates, or further price discounts at various other retail stores. For a consumer who regularly charges large sums of purchases on the retail credit card, points can be accumulated quickly to easily redeem a variety of gifts.
Points accumulated from using a retail credit card can also be transferred in to cash savings. Some stores will issue savings coupons on redemption of points accumulated on the retail credit card. These savings coupons offer a considerable price discount on future purchases.
What if the holder of a retail credit card does not want to spend too long accumulating points for gift redemption? Or the retail credit card holder does not like the hassle of filling in forms for redeeming gifts with points accumulated on the retail credit card. There are stores who offer immediate gift redemption of points accumulated through purchases on the retail credit card. In such cases, the gifts available for redemption are usually of lesser value. These include DVDs, movie tickets and chocolate bars.
Additionally, a holder of a retail credit card will receive notification of special sales at the store before the general public. Other times, the store will have an exclusive sale open only to the store’s retail credit card holders. During these sales, retail credit card holders enjoy generous discounts on purchases and are still able to accumulate points on purchases charged to the retail credit card.
Be aware of the monthly credit limit available on the retail credit card. Select a retail credit card with a monthly credit limit that meets your monthly expenditure budget. This will ensure that you can fully pay the monthly purchases made on the retail credit card. Further, the retail credit card usually has a revolving credit at a pre-determined credit limit. This means that a charge is levied on the bill if the amount due on the retail credit card is not fully paid each month. However, by settling fully each month the amount due on the retail credit card, you avoid paying the additional charge.
Additionally, prompt payments of the monthly amount due on the retail credit card will also help improve an unhealthy credit score. Frequent and further use of the retail credit card, together with prompt payments of the monthly amount due on the retail credit card, will continue to transform the credit score into a good figure. By responsibly managing the use of the retail credit card, it will be easier to obtain future credit, especially for larger purchases.
Ensure that you have worked out all the various information of different retail credit cards before you apply for a retail credit card. Some retail credit cards may have high interest rates, carry an annual subscription fee, or charge an administrative fee on application of the retail credit card. In comparison, there are retail credit cards that do not require any administrative fee on application of the retail credit card, has no annual subscription fee and only carry the usual interest rates.
Finally, always opt for retail credit cards offered by established and trusted merchants. This will ensure that you obtain the most bonus and best service provided by merchants offering the retail credit card. The Visa retail credit card and MasterCard retail credit card are retail credit cards widely recognized internationally. Not only are the Visa retail credit card and MasterCard retail credit card accepted for purchases at retail stores such as Borders and Starbucks, the Visa retail credit card and MasterCard retail credit card are also accepted by all online merchants such as Amazon.com. With a business retail credit card or personal, whether it is a Visa card or MasterCard, the consumer will find that purchases made both at the store and online are convenient and rewarding.
October 8, 2008
This credit card is one of the best business credit cards offered by American Express. The rewards for this card are amazing. Of course, the most notable reward is the 5,000 bonus points you receive on your first purchase with this card. Furthermore, you get great protection from theft and fraudulent charges.
Any business that is serious about their purchasing power should look into this credit card. For business credit, rewards are KING! The American Express Gold Business credit card is a perfect way to manage spending for your business.
Below are the updated bullet points that we received from American Express:
- Business Ownership has Become More Rewarding
- No Limit to the Number of Membership Rewards® Points You Can Earn, Plus Up To 40,000 Bonus Points* in Your First Year
- Points Have No Expiration Date
- Fee-Free for the First Year – a Savings of $125
- No Pre-Set Spending Limit* and No Finance Charges
- Discounts with FedEx, Delta®, Courtyard by Marriott®, and More
- Automatic Complimentary Enrollment in the Membership Rewards Program
- Redeem Points for Top-Tier Rewards Including Travel, Merchandise, Office Equipment, and Gift Cards for You or Your Employees
If you wish to apply for this credit card, click on the APPLY button at the bottom of this page. Or if you wish to get more information, we offer a detailed review on this credit card. Click on the REVIEW button at the bottom of this page.
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