Credit Cards For Beginners

If 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.

Related posts:

1. State Of The Australian Credit Card Industry: Statistics & Trends Report
2. Why Are Only Some 0% Balance Credit Cards Suitable For Making New Purchases?
3. Australians saving $463 a month
4. Survey Finds Australians Know Their Fees yet Still Pay Regular Penalty Fees

Editor's Choice: Our Top Credit Cards

Credit Card	Card Details	Interest Rate (p.a.)	Cash Advance Rate (p.a.)	Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.)	Annual fee	Interest free days (up to)
Bankwest Lite MasterCard	Editor's Choice: Cheapest Credit Card The lowest stress mastercard, with Australia's lowest MasterCard purchase rate of just 9.99% p.a.	9.99%	20.99%	1.99% for 12 months	$59	55
St George Vertigo	Editor's Choice: Best Bank Low 2.99% for 6 months (reverts to 11.74%) p.a. interest rate and balance transfer rate, from one of Australia's most respected banks.	2.99% for 6 months (reverts to 11.74%)	20.49%	2.99% for 6 months	$55	55
Citi Clear Platinum Visa	Editor's Choice: Low Interest An excellent low interest credit card offer with 11.49%interest on purchases and 0.99% for 6 months on balance transfers .	11.49%	20.99%	0.99% for 6 months	$42	55
ANZ Low Rate MasterCard	Editor's Choice: Balance Transfer A very popular card choice with a low rate, annual fee and attractive 0% for 6 monthsbalance transfer offer.	12.49%	20.74%	0% for 6 months	$58	55
Bankwest Zero Platinum MasterCard	Editor's Choice: No Annual Fee Excellent introductory offer with a $0 annual fee for the life of the credit card and a 1.99% p.a. for 12 months on balance transfers	15.99%	15.99%	1.99% for 12 months	$0	55