Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Translating Credit Card Use To Savings

Affiliate companies are engaged by creditor banks in specialty credit cards for specific uses. This trend started with the frequent flyer miles granted to travelers and has evolved in its own stead and has started off different promotions in different retail merchandise and products.

Today, regardless of the product or merchandise, you can avail of a promotions offer with your best credit card that can generate and credit points for you leading to your next purchase. Similar to the frequent flyer miles, you can earn rewards points for every purchase you make, giving you the chance to get your purchases for your everyday needs and then paying it at the end of each billing cycle.

Just for spending for the same amount you would in cash, the credit card offers you incentives by way of redemption points for gift items which would add value to your purchasing activities.     


As these incentive programs are easy and convenient to use, caution has to be exercised to see to it that it is not overused or abused. For this program to really translate into real savings there has to be commitment on the part of the credit card user to pay off the balance in full each billing cycle in order to avail of the rewards points. Should you fail to pay in full or worse, falter on your payments, then the interest and late charges would add up making it more costly than the availing of the rewards points itself.

A lot of creditor banks do offer zero APR or annual percentage rate to their balance transfer feature. Since there is no interest reflected on your balances, it would be much easier to pay your balances in full and on time. However, caution must be made in verifying the interest rate’s effective duration, as it may vary when the introductory rates expire.

These interest-free offers usually last from 6 months to one year, as introductory offers for a new credit card applications. If you make a careful plan or strategy in the payment of your balance and are able to fulfill your obligations on time, then you would not have to pay any interest at all.  

When you avail of the balance transfer feature, you are opening yourself to improvement of your credit rating. Even if your credit rating is already good, using your balance transfer option would further drive up your credit score, and this is good for your credit history. You reduce the overall interest rate and the amounts of your accounts when you group your balances together in a single credit card.

This consolidation of balances means you pay only for a single balance per month and you only have to observe one due date. Should you incur problems, you only face penalty for a single account. Aside from these, you are able to easily monitor your account and have easier budgetary control over the same.

One thing good about balance transfers is that even if you group your balances into a single account, your other accounts can remain open and usable. This makes for good opportunities to improve your credit rating, as it is determined not only by how you make your payments, but also how much credit limits you may have on your different credit card. By using the balance transfer feature, you can instantaneously upgrade your credit rating by doubling your credit limit without paying more cash. When you lower your liability chances you proportionately increase your credit rating.

Getting gift cards is ideal for sending to loved ones for them to be able to get the items they need. The gift card is a form of credit card that affords you relative savings when you avail of them.