Showing posts with label debt cosolidation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label debt cosolidation. Show all posts

Consumer Credit Debt Consolidation - What Are Your Options?

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

debt consolidation
The average person carries about eight or nine credit cards! And if you have that many--or even more--you may be looking for a way to consolidate your debt into one, easy monthly payment. Fortunately, you have some options to consolidating your debt. You may want to consider:
A loan.
If you're a home owner, a Home Equity Loan, Home Equity Line of Credit or second mortgage is probably the least expensive way for you to borrow a lump sum of cash for debt consolidation. By tapping into the equity in your home, you can pay off your creditors so that you only have one creditor--your Home Equity lender--to worry about each month. If you're not a home owner, you might still be able to secure a relatively low interest rate personal loan if you use an item of value that you own as collateral, such as your car, your boat, stocks or bonds, or jewelry.
Another credit card.
Sure, the idea of getting yet another credit card might sound crazy and irresponsible. But the key is to sign up for a low interest card and then transfer ALL the balances from your old cards onto your new one. That way, you've consolidated all your credit cards onto a single one. And you don't have to sign up for a new account if you already have a card that has a zero balance plus low interest. In that case, you can simply transfer your other credit card balances to the low interest card you already own. Either way, it's a simple and relatively painless way to consolidate your debt.
Get professional help.
Can't qualify for a loan or a new credit card? It's possible you need professional assistance. Debt consolidation companies--also called debt management companies--can help you lower your interest rates, lower your minimum payments and consolidate your debt into one monthly bill. You can find a debt consolidation company by searching online, asking friends and family, or checking your local yellow pages.
No matter which choice you make, debt consolidation can help you get back in control of your financial life. By consolidating multiple credit card payments into one bill, you'll find it easier to make your monthly payment on time. Moreover, many debt consolidation options allow you to lower your interest rate and minimum payments, which can help you save money and pay off your debt faster.
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Be An Oracle Of Sort With Debt Counseling

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

debt consolidation
Debts are becoming a major issue around the world and UK is no different to the rest of the world. Debts over the past few years have created havoc if we count the number of people getting severely affected by it. So it is natural that people are looking for solutions to their debts problems.
The first step towards the solution begins with the proper knowledge of a given topic and for problems relating to debts the first step towards their solutions would be to get totally acquainted with the subject and that in this case means taking debt counseling.
Debt counseling is a method where by the experts on the topics of debts and other related subjects provide insights to the people who can use them to their benefits. This is a great help as this technique helps eliminate the debt related issues from the start and what does the saying say “good start means half the battle”.
Here is a preview of what might people get when they seek debt counseling.
Debt counseling basically involves techniques which people should follow so that their debts do not get out of hand. A few well known techniques of debt counseling are:
Debt consolidation - it is a technique whereby people who are in debts from more than one creditor take another loan to settle their debts and in turn try to reduce or eliminate their debts. This process may involve a few steps. Steps such as:
• Making budgets – this process would involve the borrower to make budgets to keep the expenses in check.
• Follow budgets – the budgets are useful only when they are followed properly and to the point where they give out results, not just follow them at the start and then desert them.
• Spending carefully - the process would require the borrowers to spend carefully and keep their expenses down so that there is no problem in paying of debts.
Apart from these, there are other methods of debt counseling that a person can follow to reduce their debts.
People who are looking for debt counseling can get more updated information from any of these debt counseling services.
• Citizen’s advice bureau (CAB)• National debtline• Insolvency helpline
These debt counseling services can provide more insightful information depending upon the individuals profile and his credit ratings. Or else, the borrower can go online and interact with the experts on his case. This will surely help him in his fight against debts.
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Consolidate Debt With Home Equity as Security

Saturday, July 11, 2009

debt consolidation
In these days, hard to find a person with zero debt and most people have more than one debt. You may have high interest credit card debts, loans and mortgages. If every month you find hardship to clear the needed repayment or you need to borrow from someone else in order to meet the monthly repayment, which is yet creates another debt, you are having financial difficulties. These are the signs of financial crisis and you need to react fast to find a solution to handle your debts in order for you to prevent trapping into financial crisis. One of the solutions for this problem is debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation is simply the process of combining all accumulated debt from all the various creditors into one smaller, more manageable payment. If you own a home, you can get a debt consolidation home equity loan. With your home as the collateral, you could apply for a home equity loan and consolidate all your debts into one inexpensive and affordable monthly payment with low interest rate. A debt consolidation home equity loan is a secured loan where your property will be security against the loan. These home equity loan in general will have much lower interest rate and it has various repayment period to choose from. You can choose the package with repayment period that have monthly payment that meet your financial affordability so it won't burden you. The lender will have a lien on your house until you pay off the home equity loan in full and because of this, the equity loan is easy to be approved. While you will continue to own your home as loan collateral, the debt consolidation loan will keep the creditors away and keep you out of bankruptcy. Using your home as collateral to get the debt consolidation home equity loan is a security to the lender. But you need to aware that at any time if you can't afford to make payment to your home equity loan, you may lose you home. Hence, after consolidate your debt with the home equity loan, the first thing you need to do is to control your current and future expenses especially your credit cards, it is advisable that you don't use any of them in times of temptation. This is because once you consolidate all your debts with home equity loan, you credit cards will back the maximum credit allowance for you to swipe again and if you continue using it without a control, it will thereby increasing your debt again and put you right back into the hot water.
Beside the low interest rate, longer repayment period and easier to be approved, a home equity loan is tax deductible. Normally, if you add your first mortgage to a new debt consolidation loan, and the total does not exceed 100% of the appraised value of your property, the interest you pay will be fully deductible. You can consult a tax consultant for further information on this matter.
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Consider Debt Consolidation to Improve Your Credit Ratings

Saturday, July 4, 2009

debt consolidation
Being in debt is just a fact for many people. Statistic shows that over 40% American families spend more money that they earn and the average American household has nearly $10,000 in credit card debt. But it does not have to be a bad thing, even though you may have a bad credit history, debt consolidation may be a way for you to take charge of your credit.
Debt consolidation is a debt reduction process that allows you to combine your assorted unsecured debts such as credit card's debts into one payment. Instead of sending your credit card payment to 7 or 8 banks at different due schedule, you would make one payment to the debt consolidation company and that company will take care everything for you. Normally, the debt consolidation company will generally negotiate a reduced interest rate, a reduced balance, a lower monthly payment, eliminate late fees, and set a term when the debt will be paid off in full. This may save you large sums of money in the long run.
Before you decide to go for debt consolidation, you need to figure out how much you owe. You can know the total in debt by listing all creditors and how much you owe for each creditor. In addition, include the monthly payment due for each creditor. By assessing your debts, you will then be able to determine how much you owe and how much of a loan payment you can afford if you choose to consolidate.
Consolidating your debts is one of your options of eliminating your debt. By consolidate all your debts into one monthly payment will ease your debt management by focusing only on one payment instead of multiple payments with difference due schedule; this will help you to avoid miss payment or late payment to your creditors and help you to rebuild your good credit records and eventually improve your credit ratings.
You can consolidate your debt either with or without a debt consolidation loan. There are many reputable debt consolidation company specialize in managing all your debts without getting another loan. They will charge a fee for their services and in turn, they will negotiate with your creditors to have your interest rate lowered and they will take care of the payments you make every month.
You can also choose to consolidate your debt with a consolidation loan and if you own your own house, you can consider an equity loan using your home's appraised value and other equities to obtain the needed financing.
Just beware of debt consolidation scams, take your time to check out a few debt consolidation companies and give alert on the offers that are "too" good and guaranteed for everything. The best way to check the reputability of these debt consolidation companies is to check them with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org. From they you will know how many complaints have been filed against these companies and for what reasons.
In Summary
Consolidating your debts will eventually lead to you having no debts at all and a better credit record. Once you have consolidated your debt into one payment, put your credit cards away, and do not take on any more credit. Remember, the purpose of you consolidate your debt is to reduce and eliminate your debt in the end and improve your credit ratings.
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Consider A Program To Consolidate Your Debt

Friday, July 3, 2009

debt consolidation
In the present climate of easy credit it is easy to get in over your head with credit card debt. Many people do not realize how many Americans are living payday to payday getting deeper and deeper into the drowning pool of high interest revolving debt. With recent laws mandating higher minimum monthly payments and stricter bankruptcy laws there are those who may feel they have no options. A program tconsolidate debtmay be the answer for these people. If you are one of those who is struggling with a staggering load of debt you may want to think about a program such as this.
There are two steps which will start you on the road to a debt consolidation program. First, gather all of your bills and make a list of the monthly payments you are making and the interest rates you are being charged. Second, access your credit report online. If you have not received a credit report during this calendar year you are entitled by law to a free report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. Your credit report will tell you how many times your payments have been late or missed. It will also give you contact information for all of the companies to whom you are making payments if you do not already have it. Combine the research from your bills and from your credit report to ascertain exactly how much you pay monthly, how much you owe and what your payment record is.
When you obtain your credit report, you should also purchase your credit (FICO) score which should be available from the same sources for a nominal fee.
Armed with this information contact several debt consolidation programs. Sources for such programs can be your banking institution, the yellow pages, the Internet, the Better Business Bureau and The Chamber of Commerce. If you know others who have had similar problems you might ask them for personal recommendations. Churches may also be a valuable resource for debt consolidation programs. Some religious organizations even operate such facilities.
Even though debt consolidation programs advertise themselves as services they are also money making concerns. Therefore, when deciding upon the one to use you should be wary of them as you would be when making any financial commitment. The purpose behind a debt consolidation program is to have the company deal with your creditors. Negotiating a reduction in your credit card interest rates, asking for reduced fees and longer repayment plans and other debt restructuring is a tedious process. It often requires a lot of cross mailings and telephone calls. Once you are in a debt consolidation program the company will take care of these matters for you. In order for the program to be successful overall you must make sure you choose a company that will deal fairly and competently with both you and your creditors.
Interview the prospective debt consolidation programrepresentatives just as you would an applicant for a job. These people will, after all, be working on your behalf. Make sure the tasks they will do for you and what they hope to accomplish are clearly defined. It is also imperative to have a written breakdown of the fees they charge. Ask them to give you a breakdown of how much of the payment you make to them will go to the credit card companies and how much they will keep as the cost of your participation in the program. Once they have negotiated the reconfiguration of your debts with the various credit card companies the debt consolidation program should furnish you with a copy of the negotiation results. It should stipulate how long it will take for all of your debts to be paid in full.
Quiz the companies you are considering about the credit education programs they offer. At a minimum, courses on budgeting and wise use of credit should be available.
Many programs may require that you relinquish most if not all of your charge cards. This step may be hardest of all for you to complete but it is one of the most important. Once you have gotten out from under your credit card debt and curbed your dependence on future charging your debt consolidation program will be truly successful.
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Debt Consolidation - Your First Step to Financial Responsibility

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

debt consolidation In today world, almost everyone owning at least one credit card and most of people owning more than one card. Credit card has enabled you to buy things with electronic money, what you need to do is just sign your signature on the credit card receipt. It has made your life so easy until you may not aware that you might over spending each month. If you not manage it probably, you may trap into credit card debt like most of Americans. According to statistics over 40% American families spend more money than they earn and the average American household has nearly $10,000 in credit card debt.
The worst case option for unbearable credit card debt is by declaring bankruptcy. But if you start to serious look at your debt problem and handling it properly, you will have a better option to get rid of credit card debt without the need of bankruptcy. Don't choose this option unless you really need to do so, debt consolidation is always your better options.
Debt consolidation is simply the process of combining all accumulated debt from all the various creditors into one smaller, more manageable payment. It could be in the form of another credit card or some sort of loan but the best solution really boils down to what works best for you and your current situation.
Debt consolidation will enable you to organize your credit card debt, pay much less in interest and even drop a portion of your debt in some circumstances. Debt consolidation will combine all your debt in one manageable monthly payment with a single due date. With that, you only need to remember one payment due date, miss payment or late payment can be avoided. This will help you to rebuild your good credit records and eventually improve your credit ratings.
If you have home equity, you are lucky because your actually can opt for a home equity loan and use it to pay off your credit card debt. Home equity loan has a much lower interest rate and it can be spread over more years and the interest is tax deductible.
By consolidating your debt into one payment, your credit cards are now free and clear. At this time, your credit card will be back to maximum credit limit for you to use again. If you are not changing your spending behavior, you may trap into to another credit card debt. Hence, a good first step is to cancel most, if not all of your current credit cards. You may keep one for gas and groceries and another one for emergency backup purpose. Pay off your balance each month to develop a good credit rating.
In conclusion, don't let your credit card debt goes into worse situation where bankruptcy is the only option. Start your first step to financial responsibility and look at your credit card debt seriously; consolidate them to one smaller and more manageable payment. Do a little research and find the best debt consolidation deal you can for your situation and then change your spending behavior so you can get rid of your credit card debt in a few years down the road.
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Debt Consolidation : Your Future Bright?

Sunday, June 21, 2009

debt consolidation Most people have taken out plenty of loans and other forms of credit, from various sources over the years. These could include student loans, credit cards, store cards, a bank overdraft, car loan, goods bought on a buy now pay later basis. All of these sources of credit will have different terms depending on who you borrowed from and how much. One important factor with all these loans is that they will all have different rates.
Rates and APR
The rate you repay your loans at is vitally important. Many people underestimate the influence the APR will have on how much they repay for a loan; the difference can be astounding. The bottom line is that you want your interest rates to be as low as possible.
If you have many different loans and they are all at different rates, and some of the rates are very high, you may consider debt consolidation. This is taking out a new loan that will provide you with enough cash to pay back all your other loans. Then the only loan you have to worry about is the new debt consolidation loan. The main advantage of this is that you may be able to borrow the consolidating loan at an interest rate substantially lower than what you’re paying for your other loans. This will mean that all your monthly payments will be replaced by one reduced payment, thus saving you thousands.
Lift Those Weights!
Another advantage of debt consolidation is the stress it can take off your shoulders. It is sometimes very difficult to keep track of all your various payments, when they’re due, how much they’ll be and whether or not you’ll have enough to cover them. This may lead to you frequently missing payments and incurring further late fees. A debt consolidation loan will remove all this hassle, as you will now only have one loan to repay.
Words of Caution
The main drawback of a debt consolidation loan is that the new loan is likely to be secured over your home. While your other loans will likely have been on an unsecured basis, you will be making them secured over your home. If there is a chance that you will not be able to meet the repayments, then you are putting your home at risk. This is highly unadvisable. Unsecured creditors can ultimately make you bankrupt and take your home but the process is lengthy and can often be avoided. If the loan is secured there is a much greater risk that your home will be taken to pay off the loan.
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Secure Your Debt with Debt Consolidation Loans

Thursday, June 18, 2009

debt consolidation Are you troubled with the large number of repayments that you have to make for all your debts each month?
Are you unable to afford the monthly payments from within your income resources?
Are creditors bothering you with the repeated calls and legal notices to get back their money?
Are you loosing your nights sleep because of the stress, and are you anxious to get rid of your debts?
If you are going through all this, then the quickest source of relief from all your debt related troubles lies in a debt consolidation loans.
A debt consolidation loans allows you to combine all your debts into a single loan, with the flexibility of choosing a repayment period that entails monthly payments which fit easily into your monthly budget.
When you have debts taken for difference resources there is a lot of differential in the interest rates, but with the consolidation of your debts a single interest rate will apply to your new consolidation loan which is usually much lower as compared to the average rate paid for all your debts. While cutting out the stress, consolidation also offers you a lot of saving opportunities.
Bad credit debt consolidation loans are readily available to almost anyone who needs them. There are so many options of debt consolidation loans available in the market, and can make you hard to decide exactly which lender to use and what type of loan to get. If you are wondering where to start, here are some bad credit debt consolidation options to consider:
  • Unsecured Personal Loans An unsecured personal loan can help you consolidate your bills into one low monthly payment without tying up any of your assets. There are various terms period available on unsecured personal loan. The longer your term, the lower your payments, but the more interest you need to pay with longer term. The approval process of this type of loan may be quite tricky and the approval process may take long time as it no need to pledge any of your assets for your loan approval and the lender need to go through various processes to ensure you payback ability.
  • Secured Personal Loans Most of bad credit debt consolidation loans are secured loans. These loans vary in term length and can help you to consolidate your debt. The only catch is that you must pledge some sort of collateral against the loan, such as a home, car, boat, etc. li>
  • Home Equity Loans Home equity loans are relatively easy to obtain and can help you with bad credit debt consolidation. Terms for these loans can be anywhere from one to thirty years, and interest may be tax deductible.
A debt consolidation loans can be a lifesaver for those people who were sinking in their debts, as a debt consolidation loan can be customized to suit the affordability of an individual. When you have understood the basics and a working knowledge of a debt consolidation loan, you can proceed further with applying for one.
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Credit Card Debt Consolidation Best Methods

Friday, June 12, 2009

debt consolidation Credit cards are the safest way to make payments, which carry no risk of theft or anything else. To avoid credit card debt you are advised to make payment before statement date. If you are already under the threat of credit card debt then you are recommended to take credit card debt consolidation loan to consolidate credit card debt.
Here are some best methods for credit card debt consolidation.
You can apply for credit card debt consolidation through Internet or by applying to your local creditors. Both secured and unsecured forms of Credit card debt consolidation are available in market to choose from, it will be better to take an unsecured loan because a miss payment may lead you lose your security.
For credit card debt consolidation you should take loan from a single creditor because it is easy to pay to a single creditor than to pay to multiple creditors.
With credit card debt consolidation you can get better rates as your new creditor will offer you easy terms with lower monthly installments and lower interest rates.
You can make your life simple with credit card debt consolidation by paying one bill per month, which will cut a lot of stress and bill paying time.
If you are unable to take credit card debt consolidation loan at your desired low interest rates then you can borrow needed money from your life insurance policy to eliminate credit card debt.
Of course, the best method to consolidate credit card debt is to minimize the use of credit card, which is in debt, and to transfer the balance to a lower or zero interest credit card.
Credit card debt help is usually available for both personal and business debt problems at most financial services.Do not postponing taking care of your credit car debt. You can lose a lot of money!
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Credit Card Debt Consolidation: The 3 Factors to Consider

Thursday, June 11, 2009

debt consolidation If you’ve got a number of credit cards and insurmountable credit card debt, then perhaps it’s time to consider a debt consolidation loan. A consolidation loan is a loan that you can use to pay off all your debts, meaning that you can pay them off for less money without having to worry about lots of different bills.
For instance, if you had borrowed $3000 five years ago, you may now owe $5000 (principle plus interest). A debt consolidation program may involve eliminating some amount of interest so that you pay less than $5000.
Also, your previous outstanding balances may be on five different credit cards. You need to pay 5 bills every month. Once you participate in a debt consolidation program, all your accounts will be consolidated into one account. You now pay only one bill each month.
In a credit card debt consolidation, your average interest rate may be reduced. All your loans can also be transferred to one single card that has a lower interest rate than the ones you are currently paying.
Here are top three factors to consider for Credit card debt consolidation:
1. Interest Rate
Get the best interest rate you can if you opt for debt consolidation. This interest rate is almost as important as the one on your mortgage, but much harder to change after you’ve signed on the dotted line. Don’t be fooled by any offers that give you a good rate for a limited time – you’re going to have this loan for quite a while.Interest rates for credit card debt consolidation loans through traditional lenders may be based on your credit score. If high, you are likely to get a credit card debt consolidation loan at a lower interest rate. If the credit score is low, credit card debt help companies may be able to help offer methods for raising your credit score.
2. The loan tenor or length of the loan
The most overlooked aspect about debt consolidation loans is that the ones with lower payments generally last a very long time – you may end up paying it off for twenty years, or even longer. You should try to find a loan that doesn’t last as long, and asks for payments that are as much as you can afford.
3. A payment sum that you can manage.
Almost without exception, the loan will be secured on your home. That means that if you start missing payments, the finance company will kick you out, take (‘repossess’) your house, sell it, and pay back the debt with that money.
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Debt Management Services

Thursday, May 7, 2009

debt consolidation Are your loads of debts bothering you? Do your creditors keep calling to remind you of your liabilities? Are you afraid you might not be eligible to borrow again just to make ends meet? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you might want to seek advice from a debt management services company. They offer solutions through debt management that will eventually free you of debts.
Debt management is a term that refers to a ‘third party’ between the debtor and their creditors. A debt management specialist will work with you to come up with a viable plan to repay your debts and lower your monthly payments. This is done by consolidating all of your bills into one. The debt management service collects a monthly payment from you and disperses this payment to all of your creditors. At the same time, they work with your creditors in order to reduce any finance charges or late charges that might be excessive. The debt management service gets a commission by taking a fraction of the debtor’s monthly disbursement, and usually some type of payment from the creditors.
For the most part, debt management services are great for people who owe a large sum of money to creditors, because the service will help you to properly assess your overall spending and cash flow, while settling with your creditors at the same time. It can even help you achieve a debt-free way of living.
There are lots of debt management agencies that can provide you with services that are indispensable because they can help you avoid bankruptcy and other financial woes. After all, cutting down your debts is what debt management services is all about.
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Breath With Low Interest Debt Consolidation

Monday, April 27, 2009

debt consolidation If you are overburdened with credit card bills, medical bills, wedding expenses, auto loans, personal loans and many other outstanding payments, it is right to go for debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation endeavors to consolidate your multiple debts into a single, easily manageable loan. But remember, it is not just bringing multiple debts under one creditor. You aim to save enough money that you pay as interest rate. Keeping this in mind low interest debt consolidation loans have been specifically designed to help you merge different debts into one; thus making you accountable to a single creditor.
The first step towards a low interest debt consolidation loan is to figure out the total amount of debt you want to consolidate. The lender will do rest of the task. Negotiations will be done on your behalf with different creditors.
The best way to get a low interest debt consolidation loan is to place a high value collateral. Collateral is the property that you secure against the loan. If you borrow against the equity in your home, you can extract a larger amount with relatively low rate of interest. The interest rate will be tax deductible. The repayments should be made on time; else the lender has the right to confiscate your property.
Low interest debt consolidation loan is ideal for bad debtors as well. Your credit score plays a vital role in determining the loan amount and rate of interest. Lenders usually offer higher amounts to borrowers with a better credit history. So, the borrower should first try to improve his credit score by clearing off those debts that he can easily pay and report it immediately to a credit rating agency. This will get his credit report updated and help him improve the credit score so as to draw larger loan amount at a low interest rate.
Choosing the right lender is of immense importance. In order to get the best possible deal, one should shop around for loan quotes from different loan providing organizations. This process of hunting for the best lender is very time consuming and you are sure to encounter many hassles in your way. Therefore, to prevent you from facing all such grievances, there is the provision of online lenders. A simple search through the Internet can make you familiar with different online lenders dealing in low interest debt consolidation loans. The free facility of online loan calculator provided by various websites can help you get an estimate of your monthly payments. The online technique of applying for low interest debt consolidation loan is simple, quick and puts an end to enormous paper work.
Low interest debt consolidation loans sway all your debts into a single monthly payment and help you get rid of them sooner. They make you liable to just one creditor thus helping you control your finances once again.
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Smart Ways To Deal With Credit Card Debt

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

debt consolidation You already know a lot about credit cards. You've heard that consumer debt in this country-particularly credit-card debt-is at an all-time high, while our savings rate is lower than ever before. You realize that the boom in online shopping, with its absolute dependence on credit cards, is further fueling their use. You are well aware that running a balance on your plastic-and paying the unconscionable interest rates that come with it-is one of our most basic and widespread financial blunders. And you suspect that the sheer volume of direct-mail credit-card solicitations with low teaser rates must be devastating the forests of northern Idaho.
Still, credit cards are a fact of 21st century life, and it only makes sense to understand how to use them wisely. While it's probably impractical to keep all plastic out of your wallet, it is prudent to limit the number of cards you have, and, of course, to pay all balances in full every month. Indeed, having only a traditional American Express card, which doesn't allow you to carry a balance, can be an excellent way to impose fiscal discipline on you and your family-although, as the Visa ads point out, not everyone accepts American Express. For the rest of us, who do occasionally dabble in credit-card debt, here are a few ways to keep your habit under control.
1. Take advantage of frequent-flier programs tied to credit cards, but keep in mind that interest payments on a high balance can quickly turn "free" flights into outrageously expensive ones. At a dollar per mile, running up a debt of 25,000 may get you a plane ticket, but it will also saddle you with $4,500 in yearly interest payments, assuming an 18% annual rate.
2. Look very closely at credit-card offers before you bite. Obviously, most of those 2.99% and 3.99% rates will be in effect for only a few months. But there may be other catches as well. Making a late payment, even if it arrives only a day after it was due, may immediately trigger a permanent rate hike. Also, low initial rates sometimes apply only to transferred balances, and you could get charged a fee for making the transfer. Check, too, to see whether there is an annual fee, or charges for exceeding your credit limit or even for closing an account.
3. Avoid amazing grace-period tricks. What you're looking for is a provision that says you'll never be charged interest as long as you pay your bill in full by the due date. But some cards have no grace period, calculating interest from the moment you make a purchase, while others give you only a limited time after making a charge before interest is imposed. That period of 20 days or so may end before your payment is due.
4. Don't forget to cancel cards you no longer use. If you don't, they'll show up on credit reports, and that could be a problem, particularly if you're applying for a home mortgage. Your would-be lender may be reluctant to make a loan to someone who has a cumulative credit-card limit of $50,000, $100,000, or even more.
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