Choose a Card That Matches Your Spending Habits

Credit card spending habits influence the ways with which we control our debt. Unless we learn to control our spending urges and pay off our credit cards in full each month, every bit of advice won’t keep you from running into credit card debt.

Different consumers have different motivations for using credit cards, therefore advice won’t always work for us all. Unless the advice is tailored to your specific needs chances are you will do it tough to take generalised advice and run with it.

What type of spender are you – it will influence your credit card spending habits:

The necessity spender who refuses to go into debt:

If you refuse any type of credit card debt and only use your card for absolute necessities, then you probably pay your groceries, utilities, petrol, bills and other regular expenses.

This type of consumer doesn’t need to worry about interest rates, because they pay off their credit card bill in full each month, therefore avoiding interest charges.

Look for: rewards cards, interest free days (like the Aussie credit card).

The balancing artist who carries their balance over:

If you are one of the people who wants to use the card for larger type of purchases, and pay them off over time, then an interest free days credit card isn’t applicable to your needs.

Your primary objective is to have immediate cash flow while avoiding high interest costs.

Look for: low interest credit cards (check out the HSBC Low Rate Visa card).

Bob the builder – or how you can get the most bonuses for your credit card:

For bonus hunters, rewards are everything. These people often use their credit cards for large expenses to get more rewards points added to their account.

Luckily there is a solution for you if you consider yourself to be in this group of credit card spending habits. Many special bonus points programs (such as double rewards points specific companies), are offered by providers. Mind you though, many rewards cards often carry a hefty annual membership fee unless you are on some housing loan package with your bank, in that case your card will be free.

Look for: targeted rewards credit cards and a low fee (or no fee) cards (like the ANZ First Visa credit card).

Credit card companies make money through the fees and charges you pay on your card as well as the interest rates when you are in debt. By controlling your credit card spending you can take advantage of the offers on the market and use cards to your advantage.

Check out today's featured offers:

Westpac Low Rate	Citibank Clear Platinum	Qantas AMEX Discovery	ANZ Platinum
0% p.a. for 6 months on purchases & balance transfers	2.9% p.a. for 12 months on balance transfers	$0 annual fee Up to 10,000 Bonus QFF Points	0% p.a. for 6 months on purchases & balance transfers

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Popular Credit Card Offers

			Interest Rate (p.a.)	Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.)	Annual fee	Cash Advance Rate (p.a.)
	Westpac Low Rate Card - 0% Offer	A credit card with a low rate offer on both balance transfers and purchases, plus a low annual fee.	0% for 6 months (reverts to 13.49% )	0% for 6 months	$45	21.49%
	Citibank Clear Platinum Card	Competitive interest rate on purchases and balance transfers offer.	11.99%	2.9% for 12 months	$99	21.74%
	St George Vertigo	Take advantage of this great offer from St.George with a low rate on purchases and a low balance transfer offer.	13.24%	0.99% for 12 months	$55	21.49%
	ANZ Platinum Credit Card	An introductory interest rate offer on balance transfers and purchases, plus a $0 first year annual fee.	0% for 6 months (reverts to 19.24% )	0% for 6 months	$0 annual fee for the first year( $87 thereafter)	20.99%