Credit Cards For Beginners
Posted November 21st, 2009
and last modified December 7th, 2009If you are about to apply for your first credit card, you may need some basic advice, so this article will provide a little information about credit cards for beginners.
You may be feeling a bit clueless regarding what to look for and what to avoid, but do not be disheartened. There are many individuals out there who have owned a credit card for ten or twenty years who still have no idea how to use them properly. So, here are the basics:
Rule One – Compare:
If you have scant credit history, then you may be limited to the type of credit card you can apply for, but being a credit card novice does not mean you can’t become an expert researcher to locate the best card for you. Only 6% of Australians surveyed in this year’s Australian Consumer Credit Card & Banking Survey went to a credit card comparison site before making their application. Nearly 60% only applied to their own bank. And yet the most important factor in choosing a credit card was deemed to be finding the best deal. If those facts seem at odds, they are. Credit cards for beginners Rule One: Compare the market.
Rule Two – Important figures:
Assuming you are checking out the various credit cards on offer, there are certain factors that you must focus on. You may well like the colour of the credit card, and the hologram thingy, but these should not be the deciding factors. If you think that’s being facetious, bear in mind that in that same survey mentioned above, 14% thought credit card colour and branding was important.
* Interest rates – This is the rate that will be applied to your account if you fail to clear your balance in full each month. This is not exactly the same as the APR (which includes any associated fees broken down over a year), but for all intents and purposes, you can count these as the same. Typically, rates range from 11% to 20%, where the lower figure is obviously best.
* Annual fees – Australian credit cards usually carry an annual account maintenance fee, although there are some offers that waive this. $30 to $60 would not be unusual for a regular credit card, but you need to make sure the lower fee is not to compensate for a much higher APR. Which option you choose will depend on whether you honestly believe that you will be able to pay off your balance in full each month. If so, the interest rate won’t matter, so a low or zero annual fee would be preferable.
There will be other figures to baffle you, such as special introductory offers and balance transfer deals, but the key points for a novice are the two listed above. You will also see rewards schemes offered. If they add to the deal, great. If you have to compromise to get them, or pay an extra fee, then you’re focusing on the wrong things. Credit cards for beginners rule two: Cut to the chase; realise what matters most.
Rule Three – Be sensible:
This is the rule that many veteran credit card holders break. They overspend. This is the surest way to create a big debt, and accumulate interest. Keep an eye on your spending and make sure you are always able to clear your balance at the end of every month. Credit cards for beginners rule three: Budget, know your limits, and stay within them.
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- Why Are Only Some 0% Balance Credit Cards Suitable For Making New Purchases?
- Survey Finds Australians Know Their Fees yet Still Pay Regular Penalty Fees
- Comparing Credit Cards: Tips To Help You Compare Credit Card Offers
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