Credit Cards

Credit cards are often portrayed as tools of evil. While you can certainly get in over your head with a credit card, the reality is that with the right approach, a rewards credit card can help your finances. The right credit card rewards program can provide you with extra cash, free travel, and other perks. …

If your credit card issuer has sent you a new card recently, you might have noticed an addition: a little computer chip on the front surface. This computer chip is called an EMV chip, and it represents a technical standard being widely adopted in the wake of data breaches and the growth of fraudulent purchases. …

We’ve all received those credit card applications in the mail. The marketing packet tells you that you’re “prequalified” for a credit card offer. It seems like the perfect setup. You want a new card — maybe it has a better interest rate, or a better rewards program — so you apply. You figure you’re a …

It’s probably happened to you at some point: A bill falls through the cracks. I know it’s happened to me — and more than once. Occasionally I’ll get busy and forget about a bill, or I’ll just be behind, and put off my regular financial tasks, and a bill or two will be late as …

I almost never use a debit card anymore. I love using my credit cards because they offer me a number of advantages over debit cards. Of course, if you decide to use credit cards instead of debit cards, you do need to be careful; you don’t want to end up in debt. If you have …

Now that economy is picking up a bit and consumers are a little more comfortable with credit again, many credit card issuers are stepping up their signing bonus offers. Forget about getting a signing bonus worth $50. Some credit card issuers offer bonuses worth up to $250 or more. Credit card issuers are ready to …

One of the ways that you can rebuild your credit is with a secured credit card. Using a secured credit card can help you establish a better financial reputation if you have made a few mistakes, or even if you don’t have enough of a credit history for an unsecured credit card. However, secured credit …

One of the ways that you can protect your sensitive financial information online is to use a virtual credit card number. This type of transaction allows you to avoid sharing your real credit card account number online, and can be useful if you are concerned about credit card fraud. However, even when you use a …

Do you wish you had a lower interest rate on your credit card? What if you don’t want to pay an annual fee? Just because the credit card issuer says that something is part of the terms doesn’t mean that it has to be for you. A couple of years ago, I was able to …

One of the best ways to improve your finances is to add in the use of rewards credit cards. The right rewards credit cards can help you earn free travel and even cash back. As long as you are careful to incorporate your credit card use into your regular spending, and as long as you …

When I travel, I like to use my credit card. Credit cards are great for travel because they come with a certain level of fraud liability protection. Plus, they can be used almost anywhere you go, and they are very convenient. On top of that, when you plan your credit card use just right, you can …

There’s no doubt that credit cards make certain purchases much easier to complete — especially with the rise in online shopping. However, there are concerns about the security involved with credit cards. What if someone gets access to your credit card number and makes fraudulent purchases? The impact from such a situation can be large, …

One of the best things you can do for your finances is remember the cost of credit cards. It’s important to understand that some credit cards cost quite a lot — especially if you carry a balance. Knowing what you will pay for your credit is a big part of understanding your financial decisions and …

One of the best things you can do for your finances is to be realistic about the cost of credit cards. Unfortunately, too many of us believe that a credit card limit represents “our” money. However, it’s important to realize that credit cards represent money that you are borrowing. Whenever you borrow money it comes …

In most cases, the conventional wisdom on credit cards is to avoid paying an annual fee. An annual fee, that you pay for the privilege of borrowing money, seems like a terrible idea to many people. However, in some cases it might actually make sense to pay an annual fee. Do the Rewards Offset the …

Chances are that you have heard about balance transfers. You can move your balance from one credit card to another. But what’s the big deal? Why would someone choose to move their credit card balance? A credit card balance transfer is a big deal because it can save you a lot of money in interest …

In this guest post from JoeTaxpayer.com, Joe is sharing how he maximizes the rewards of a specific credit card he uses in a creative way. A few months back I came across a credit card offer that was above and beyond any deal I had seen before. First, a disclaimer. I believe that credit and …