Understanding your credit card’s credit limit is an important facet of owning and using a card.  We all know you can get into trouble exceeding your limit, and that trouble could lead to fees as well possibly a higher interest rate on your card as well as a lower credit score.

CNN/Money has a pretty concise article listing some of the benefits to not only knowing your credit card limit, but also the advantages of increasing that limit.  The article notes that keeping a low debt-to-limit ratio is a good move since the “lower your debt-to-limit ratio, the better your credit score will be. And to that end, there are two basic ways to improve your debt utilization: raise your credit limit or lower your debt.”

The article goes on to list some of the pitfalls you should avoid with credit cards making the point that “signing up for new cards to boost your total available credit and make your debt utilization appear lower can work against you…and opening new accounts can even lower your credit score”

Most people don’t need an excuse to use a credit card and the various incentives like cash back, rewards and frequent-flier miles make using a credit card all the more tempting and finding the right credit card all that much more important.

An interesting article in the NY Times brings up some good point to help you gauge the real value of a frequent-flier credit card, noting that “it may make more sense to change the credit card you use, not the airline you fly.”

The article goes on to list some of the changes that airlines have recently implemented with regards to frequent-flier miles and then asks some questions for you to think about regarding your credit card usage and flying habits.  It ultimately points out that “if you’re a big spending frequent traveler and think the value is still there in trading miles for upgrades, you may want to keep collecting miles via credit card spending. If you’re ready to switch to a new primary credit card, however, here are three other types of rewards cards that will probably be most appealing.”

Credit cards certainly have their place in our lives.  In fact, used correctly you can actually make some money or get free travel using your credit cards to buy things and pay bills from the various credit card reward plans available.  You can pick up some good ideas on what to look for in a credit card offer here at PFJournal.

The sad fact is, though, that most people aren’t so responsible with their credit cards.  A small purchase here and there turns into a couple of biggies and, next thing you know, you’re barely paying off the interest with minimum payments each month.

CNN/Money has a nice article on kicking the plastic habit.  They put forth some good ideas, even pointing out some benefits of giving up credit cards even if you don’t carry a balance, claiming that “studies find that paying with a card turns you into a different shopper, one who is less price sensitive and more extravagant. Forgo credit cards and you’ll run up a smaller tab when you shop, plain and simple.”

Lots of other good info in the article that should give you something to think about, even if it just helps you get your thoughts together on credit card spending and provides a different perspective on kicking the credit card habit.

Although it use to be the case that only large companies and Fortune 500 firms could have Visa gift cards with their logo or insignia, it is now possible to create your own card so that customers can buy a visa gift card with your own company logo or personalized image.

These cards are great ideas for customer prizes, employee bonuses or incentives, holiday gifts, sale incentives and much, much more. You can design your own logo, use your own image or photograph, or use one of the hundreds of designs available. There is no minimum order and your cards can be printed up and mailed out to you within 48 hours of your selection. This is a great way to add that special touch to make a gift card a much more personalized present.

From time to time, you may have received an offer from www.sendmethecard.com. This offer would usually be for a pre-approved credit card application and it would come from Chase bank. Note, however that you still have to be approved to receive the card and you might not even qualify.

A better bet would be to compare a host of credit card options that are available from the sendmethecard mail offer, some featuring low interest rates, 0% rate offers and reward cards. You can compare many different offers at once at SmartCreditChoices.com including the great deals mentioned above.

The benefit of comparing several different offers is simply because there is no one credit card that suits each different individual. Some folks need to have a card that will give them rewards such as points used to travel or cash back on their purchases while others really want a card with a low interest rate, especially on credit card balance transfers and purchases.

By comparing different offers, a consumer can save money and not get locked into a card that doesn’t suit your needs. A simple Google search will reveal many different credit card offers, but the terms and conditions are not always easy to discern. The comparison charts on Smart Credit Choices allow a quick and easy method to identify the right card without the confusion of a typical offer.

Since it’s been in the news so much lately, there is really no secret that many Americans are now facing debt problems and are in need of credit and debt counseling. This help includes either debt consolidation and management as well as credit card relief. The Credit Exchange Corporation is a great resource to use in order to seek out financial services since they use an affiliate network of debt consolidation and debt management companies.

Basically, The Credit Exchange Corporation reviews their affiliates thoroughly in order to find trustworthy referral companies that customers can best use to find the best credit and debt counseling for their specific needs. They provide referrals for several types of financial services like Financial Analysis, credit and debt counseling and debt settlement. As Americans increasingly find themselves with debt problems, services like this many become more and more invaluable.

These days, all credit cards are not made alike. In addition to the dizzying array of options you have, including rates and rewards, there are actually credit card companies that look to do some good. The Co-operative Bank offers a wide variety of cards suited for many different people, and what they all have in common is that they come from a bank with a bona fide ethical policy. That is, they choose to do business in an ethical manner paying clear attention to matters both ecological and social.

The Co-operative Bank chooses to do business with companies that value human rights, do not invest in the arms trade, do not test products on animals, pay attention to ecological and environmental concerns and avoids the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Additionally, the Co-operative Bank chooses to support social charities and seeks to eliminate all wasteful use of energy within their company.

They offer a wide variety of credit cards including one with 0% on purchases and balance transfers for six months as well as another that offers great travel benefits.  Most impressively, you can select a card that earns money for your chosen organisation as you spend as a percentage of your charge is donated to a good cause of your choice.

If you have an online business or even operate a retail shop, you really need to be able to process credit cards. In fact, you should really consider accepting a credit card to be one of the most important aspects of an online business. Your customers will expect to be able to pay via credit card since paying by cash or check can be such an inconvenience over the internet. Customers simply rely on using a credit card and you will left behind by your competitors if you cannot meet the needs of your patrons.

Therefore, you need to find a Credit Card Processor so you can accept cards for online purchases. Oftentimes, this processor is integrated directly into your shop’s software so that the checkout process is smooth and the operation is seamless. You also want to provide a secure server to process the credit card so that the customer’s date is safe.

Additionally, if you have a retail shop an affordable and reliable Merchant Processor is going to be part of accepting cards. If you only accept cash or checks you will be alienating a large segment of potential customers. A low cost processor with reasonable transaction fees will allow you to accept cards and insure that your retail business is able to accommodate all of your customers.

The best credit cards all have the same great credit card features that set them apart from the rest. Although there are hundreds of credit card offers available, there are only maybe 10-20 credit cards that you should seriously consider as the best credit cards. Here are three important features to look for when applying for credit cards:

1) No Annual Fee - You should always choose a credit card that doesn’t charge you an annual fee unless the credit card has an amazing feature/offer that you can’t live without (this very rarely happens). Why should you pay the credit card issuer to use the credit card when they make money every time you use it?

2) Interest Free Days - These are the maximum amount of days that you will not be charged interest on your credit card purchases. This is normally listed from statement date - usually 25 days.

In other words if you make a purchase on the first day of the month and receive your credit card statement at the end of that month (say on the 30th) you will have until the 25th of the next month until your will be charged interest on that purchase. If you use your credit card for every-day purchases, this feature is a must and will save you hundreds of dollars per year in credit card interest payments. Be sure to read the fine print carefully as they might add up all of the interest if you’re a day or two late.

If using a credit card that offers an interest free period, it is important that you pay-off the credit card in full, because interest is usually incurred from purchase date if you do not pay the credit card balance in full before the end of the interest free period.

3) Low APR (Annual Percentage Rate) - The annual percentage interest rate is another important feature that you must consider when selecting a credit card offer to apply for. The credit card industry is very competitive so you should be able to get a great APR. Try to get the lowest APR possible.

It is best if you can get the first year or at lest 6 months at 0% APY. Usually, this will be for credit card balance transfers or cash advance checks. Be sure these don’t cost you a large amount. Also, some of the better cards will give you this low interest rate on purchases as well for the promotional period.

This advice may not apply if you plan to pay your credit card balance in full, every month. But, if you plan to make bigger purchases you should be apply for a credit card that offers an APR that is roughly the same as what you would receive for a personal loan.

About a year ago, I was receiving credit card offers in the mail on a daily basis. I was both annoyed by all of this wasteful mail as well as frequently tempted to open up new accounts. I have several cards already, including a couple of nice year-long 0% cards, so I really didn’t need any more. I also was tired of having to shred this mail constantly and worried that one of the applications might get in the hands of the wrong people. I finally had enough of this and took steps to stop receiving credit card offers. Read more »

If you’re in the market for a new credit card, you sure have your work cut out for you. The choices can be overwhelming and the offers can be confusing and sometimes misleading. To make sure you choose the right credit card for you there are a few key points to keep in mind in order to find the perfect credit card.

Before you are able to choose the right credit card for you, you have to answer a few questions about your credit needs and spending habits. First, of course, is what you plan on using your credit card for. Is this going to be for daily expenses, a large balance transfer, traveling, paying for college, etc. You’ll want to know if you plan on paying off the balance every month or if you plan on carrying a balance. You’ll want to know how good your credit rating is and how this might influence the decision of the credit card company.

Interest Rates - A good interest rate is probably the most important factor of any credit card. But, don’t let the number fool you. Sometimes, a credit card will offer a very attractive promotional rate only to be followed by an extremely high interest rate after only a few months. If you only plan on transferring a large balance and then paying off the card before the higher rate kicks in, then this fine. However, you might plan on using this card for monthly expenses and paying off the balance every month. In this case, a good interest rate might not be as important to you.

Cash Rewards - Nothing feels better than getting a little cash back from the credit card companies. Cash and other rewards can be a great incentive for using a particular credit card. If you are able to use this card for many of your everyday purchases the cash reward can really add up. Be sure to pay attention to the fine print. Many of these reward offers are only good at certain types of stores, or the cash reward is limited to a very small amount. Do your research on the best credit card cash reward plan before you commit to a card.

Buyer Protection - Many cards will offer protection while you travel including travel accident insurance, lost luggage, rental car damages and so forth. Others will offer some protection against loss or damage to other purchases you might make. If this important to you based on how you plan to use the card, consider what card offers the best buyer protection plan.

Remember that not all credit cards are made the same–and that’s a good thing. You have a lot of choices when it comes to choosing the right credit card and you can use this advantage to help you choose the perfect credit card for you.

We have since eliminated this section of our site, please see the credit cards category for interesting articles and information.

We are pleased to announce that we have added a credit card offers section to this site. You can select the credit card that suites you and apply online.

Each credit credit page provides information on the credit card such as it’s important details like its APR, Intro APR (if applicable), annual fees and additional information. We also provide a basic review of the credit card and we rate credit card (out of 5).

Currently there is about 85 credit cards listed. Credit card information is added and updated on a regular basis, so be sure to check back often to get all the latest credit card information.

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In their quest to get you to sign up for their credit card, banks and financial institutions are coming up with more and higher incentives to entice you. Frequent flyer miles gave way to gas miles which opened the door for cash rebates and reward points to be used at ‘our fine member merchants’. When most other things are equal (APR, annual fees, fees for transfers et al), the style of reward points and how you can make use of them can be the deciding factor in which card you choose to put in your wallet. Read more »

In addition to the APR (annual percentage rate) and the finance charges, most credit cards have a number of ‘fees’ associated with their use. Some fees are unavoidable with a particular card (like an annual fee or a program participation fee), while others are triggered by certain circumstances. The most common fees are listed below. To get a better idea of what your credit card may cost to use over the course of a year, check your card’s terms and conditions and your user agreement to see which fees may apply to you. Read more »