Your Credit Card Debt Resource And Prevention Blog

Travel Credit Cards: Helpful or Hurtful?

Whether it’s frequent flyer miles, hotel stays, or gas rebates… there are now hundreds of credit cards on the market which offer some type of travel rewards. But are these cards actually going to help your wallet? Before you apply, here are five important things you should know:

1. Likely To Charge An Annual Fee: More often than not, these types of cards carry an annual fee. Sometimes it can be reasonable, such as the $45 annual fee on the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card. Other times, it can be extremely high, like the $450 annual fee on the American Express Delta Reserve card. Of course there are some which do not charge an annual fee, but most of them do.

2. Usually An Above-Average APR: As the old saying goes: what they give with one hand, they take away with the other. When it comes to credit cards, this is a good analogy. They may give you rewards, but they often charge an above-average interest rate. Therefore if you’re someone that doesn’t always pay off the balance in full each month, these probably won’t be a smart idea.

3. Sometimes The Rewards Are Inferior: This is especially true for airline cards; most only give you 1% on your general spending. Your typical run-of-the-mill cash back card does the same thing, so why pay an annual fee for an airline partner card? However sometimes, the rewards are definitely enticing. For example, the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card is known to give a lucrative bonus just for getting it; up to 6 free nights at a Starwood hotel (they also own The W, Le Meridien, Sheraton, and Westin hotels). For many, that alone is worth the $45 annual fee.

4. Rewards Only Apply To Partner Airlines: For the ones that give you frequent flyer miles, it’s important to remember that you can only redeem them with partner airlines. Sometimes this is only one airline, sometimes it’s thirty. For example, the Southwest Airlines card is said to offer great rewards, but only if you fly Southwest. If don’t always fly that airline, you will want to keep that in mind when applying.

5. Not Always The Best Balance Transfer Offer: If you’re looking for the best balance transfer credit card, you will probably want to look elsewhere. Why? Because this category is geared towards those looking for rewards, not interest rate deals.

Credit Card Reviews: How Useful Are They?

The internet is an indispensable resource for financial planning. It’s hard to imagine that just a decade or two ago, we didn’t have it. Back then, researching credit cards was a challenge to say the least; all we had to rely on were ads, periodicals, and word-of-mouth. Today there are a plethora of credit card reviews available online, but are they actually useful?

Why are most online credit card “reviews” the same?
If you’ve ever shopped for a credit card online, you’re probably all too familiar with the way these cards are marketed. There are countless sites out there and they all seem to feature the exact same information. Instead of writing original reviews and ratings, they choose to re-publish the same old bullet points and ad copy. For the consumer that is looking for a more in-depth review, this isn’t very helpful.

How can you find in-depth credit card reviews and information?
For those seeking more than just the standard bullet points, there are places to get it if you know where to look. A number of personal finance sites feature editorial content on this topic. An internet discussion forum or message board can also be a good place for credit card reviews. Then of course there are still reputable magazines, like Consumer Reports and Smart Money, which regularly rate financial products and services.

What do you need to know to make the best decision?
This varies depending upon your needs. Are you looking for the highest cash back or the best balance transfer credit card? Do you want a MasterCard or an American Express? Are you willing to pay an annual fee or not? Do you have good or bad credit? There are countless criteria to contemplate, so make sure you know exactly what you are looking for before making your decision.

First Platinum Plus Credit Line Review

It’s Christmas soon and I thought I would give this new awesome credit line a review. First of all if you need money to buy some gifts this christmas season, this $7500 Credit Line will come very handy indeed. I am getting mine today as I really need some cash to buy a few nice gifts for my family.

“It boasts 0% interest for the first year, with an initial cost to user of only $2.78 for processing fee.” You can apply for this amazing credit line by clicking below and filling out a simple form.

This is an amazing offer indeed. There is absolutely no credit checks of any kind and no deposits required at all. Included in the activation is also a free 30 day trial of ID Watchdog which is a company that is a leader in theft protection, so you will receive that as well absolutely free.

Also as an additional bonus there is a 14 day free trial of Toll Free 1-800 VCOMM Voice Mail service that you can access from anywhere in the US and get reminders and notifications sent to you.

Again you can apply for the credit line by clicking on the picture above and filling out a very simple form. That is all that’s required.

Using Your 401k Plan To Get Out Of Credit Card Debt

Presenting yet another strategy to get you out of outstanding credit card debt.

Trying to trade bad amount of debt for good amount of debt. You must understand that this is probably not the very best way to toss away your debt, but people have tried it before to consolidate or pay their credit card debt. This method comes with one interesting point though — that if you do this sort of thing, then you must at all cost try to repay your loan or you will face the imposed 10% penalty for the early withdrawal. Lets examine this approach to see how it works in detail with helping you stop the credit card debt.

If the 401k plan you have allows you to get loans (and most of them do), then you can try and borrow up to 50% of your normally vested account. This translates to the balance or $50,000 or whatever is less. Now with this approach you should note that usually there is a maximum of five years that allows you to fully repay the loan you are getting. This is however different if you are borrowing loan for a first home in which case there is a longer payback that is allowed on the loan.

The pros of this method used to prevent credit card debt.

1. First of All there is no credit check at all.
2. Your interest rate is extremely low or laughable.
3. When you are in a situation to to pay yourself, this provides for very good return.
4. The whole interest is fully tax sheltered because you only pay taxes on the interest upon retirement.
5. It’s very easy approach and also very convenient way to stop credit card debt.

The cons of this approach

1. You are basically losing the interest which would otherwise end up in your retirement account.
2. You will also need to repay 401k debt with after the tax dollars.
3. All your future withdrawals will basically remain taxable at future tax rate.
4. You will also incur 10% credit card debt penalty plus taxes if you are basically younger than 59
5. Since the whole credit card debt loan is also a consumer loan it is not tax deductible.
6. This kind of practice can be dangerous if done lot of times and ends jeopardizing your retirement.

Again this is probably not the best method to get rid of your credit card debt. But it does offer some flexibility in how the things are done. If you are serious about doing it, get also an advice from professional as they can help you in these kind of situations. Do not just go and do it, make sure you understand all the consequences. This method has helped many people stop their credit card debt in the past.

Lower Credit Card Interest Rate

Do you need to stop credit card debt? Are you paying too much credit card debt on high interests every month? Is it more than five thousand dollars? Is your credit card interest rate is over 20%? If so, you should definitely look into reducing your interest rate. But how? Here are some tips to help you to lower down your credit card interest rates and debt.

Before you call your current credit card company, you will have to do some homework first.

Try to pay your balance always on time. You might think it’s easy to say this than done, but if you don’t do it before the due date or miss them totally, your interest rate will most likely go up. Once you make at least three on time payments, you are ready to make a phone call.

Negotiate with your credit card company. Give them a call.  Make sure don’t start your negotiation until you really get some one the phone that actually has the authority to change your interest rate. Explain to them nicely how unsatisfied you are about their ability to reduce your percentage rate commensurate with your ability to pay your bill in a timely manner. Tell them that you are planning to switch to an another credit card company because they are offering a lower rate. Convert your account to the lowest available rate or the rate you requested. In any case do what is needed to stop credit card debt.

Some credit card companies will not reduce your interest rate, even if you threaten to leave them. If they don’t, be sure to suggest that a lower rate may encourage you to keep your account with them. If you still not happy for that, search for a another credit card company that meets your immediate financial needs. Don’t be afraid to move to another credit card company. There are lots of credit card companies in the market who are willing to sign you up to earn your interest and that can help you reduce credit card debt.

Contact the major credit card companies and find out the best interest rates and even ask for a list of preferred issuers. Compared on the Internet for sites that give the best credit card rating. Ask your friends or family members. You will find out how much you could save before you make a financial decision. Find out a credit card that pays you back in cash or gift cards. Avoid to choose the one that offers you mileage rewards.

Transfer your balance to another card. It’s just a short term solution but can help you to stop the credit card debt if it becomes bigger. And be aware that balance transfer fees could run up a little bit high. Preventing credit card debt should become easier with these tips.

Finally, start budgeting. Get rid off the high interest debt as soon as posibble. Hope one day you can stop your credit card debt entirely. Good luck!

To Use Credit Cards Wisely

Get to Know the Process of Credit Card Debt Consolidation

If you possess too many credit cards and usually find it hard to control your debt, then it’s best to start having credit card debt consolidation. It’s time to find legitimate companies and conduct extensive research on all of them.

Your first choice might be to look for non-profit services. This is fine. However, you need to check them fully before trusting them with your financial records. Take note that some cons are just out there to take advantage of helpless people drowning in debt.

Typically, a personal credit counselor will contact you and work with you. He or she will create a list of your creditors with the corresponding amount that you owe. Then, your very own repayment plan will be created based on the information that you gave.

The consolidation company will send proposals consisting of settlement figures to your creditors. Surprisingly, many credit card companies will actually agree to these proposals. This will leave you with one affordable monthly repayment.

Your creditors understand that some financial situations do change. Even if you’re previously comfortable with your debt level, some unforeseen circumstances in life can make your debt unmanageable for you.

In fact, seeking credit card debt consolidation help is a positive action in their mind. They will be happy that you are seeking assistance to settle your financial obligations.

Tips for Acquiring Credit Card Consolidation Loan

Maybe you’ve heard the saying “Shop ‘til you Drop.” Many people are truly addicted to shopping. However, the problem comes when the bill arrives. Therefore, it’s truly important to pick out a card with the lowest interest rate, especially if you use it to purchase your daily groceries as well.

But for example, you have already accumulated a sizable amount of debt. The best way to reduce it is to get a credit card consolidation loan. You can find these companies in the internet. Typically, they have professionals who can work with you in order to design a customized plan for debt reduction.

If you’re a homeowner, you can take advantage of HELOC (home equity line of credit). You can use your home equity to lower your interest rate and pay off the existing balance on your credit card.

So here are some tips that you can do to make sure that your credit card consolidation loan is successful:

• When you have spare cash, don’t use it for unnecessary expenses. Deposit it in your bank so that you’ll have enough money when your loan is due.

• Pay your bills on time all the time.

• Getting another loan to pay off only one debt is not the answer. Debt consolidation means combining all your debts into one loan so that you can pay at one place instead of paying 5 different creditors. It is also the most permanent and practical solution to reduce all interest rates significantly.

We Live in a Credit Card World

These days, you can buy whatever you want with just a swipe of the credit card. However, when you go out shopping in a mall, you probably won’t notice that you’re already charging too much credit. Online shopping will also distract you from your budget. Before you know it, you are swamped with credit card bills and paying them every month is not fun at all.

Also, keeping three or more cards will confuse you with their billing due dates and different amounts of payment. It’s very possible for you to mix them up and miss your credit card payments. And you might get yourself into trouble even if you don’t intend to do this on purpose.

Fortunately, you can get a consolidation loan. In fact, you can even get better conditions with it. You have fewer bills to track down and it’s perfect to make a fresh start. If you have good credit history, you can easily negotiate better payment terms.

To facilitate a smooth process, request for copies of your billing statement from your credit card companies and then attach these to your consolidation application form. Double check everything before submission.

So take a positive step towards your financial health today. Make sure that your credit cards are consolidated in one loan to have a stress-free life.

Avoid Deceitful Companies in Credit Card Debt Settlement

The longer you leave your credit card debt unattended, the deeper you will sink in your debt hole. This is why some people just give up when they lose all hope of settling it. However, if you use a Credit Card Debt Settlement, you will surely see the sun shining again.

This type of settlement involves negotiating with your creditors and persuading them to lower the actual balance of your credit card debt. You can do it in 2 ways – either do it yourself or hire the services of a company that specializes in credit card debt settlement.

Choosing a company may save you all the hassles. However, it’s very important that you choose a legitimate one. These days, many deceitful companies take advantage of those who need financial help. To prevent this from happening, follow these 3 steps:

• Check with your Attorney General or Better Business Bureau how many complaints that particular company receives. In this high-tech world, people are letting the world know right away when a particular company slighted them.
• Then, confirm their history. How long have they been in business? Make sure that they have proper licenses in order to find out if they’re legitimate.
• Finally, guarantee that they’re members of the Association of Settlement Companies and their negotiators are part of Professional Debt Arbitrators.

If all these criteria are not met, don’t waste your time in getting their service. You must find a credit card settlement company that will pass this strict evaluation.

Do you Know How Much Debt you carry?

You just bought your dream car. Aside from that, you’re still making monthly mortgage payments on the house. However, you heard an announcement that your dream home theater equipment has a special discount price at the mall.

Wait a minute! Before you run towards the mall, you have to sit down and do some thinking first on how much do you really owe. Have you ever computed how much your debt is affecting your life?

If you are an average person, there’s a big chance that you don’t know. Also, you are most likely underestimating the interest rates you’re paying each month.

Actually, the first step in debt prevention is really listing down all your debts – credit cards, car, mortgage, and other loans including the interest rates, balances, and monthly payments.

The payment on your mortgage should not be greater than 25% of your income. Usually, you need to add another 5% for insurance, taxes, and routine maintenance. At the same token, your car payment should not be higher than 15% of your income in addition to 5% for routine maintenance and insurance.

Come to think of it, this is already 50% of your income! So to avoid being trapped in deep debt, make it a point to set aside 10% on the other half to serve you in terms of emergencies or profit for you through a tax-deferred savings plan.

You can always Dig Yourself out of Debt

Business people, whether corporations or sole proprietors, need the services of a credit card. They can be very useful for travel and convenience. Also, they can be readily available when cash is not.

However, one major drawback is that many people usually overextend credit card use. Going into credit card debt is very easy yet sometimes difficult to get out of.

To prevent yourself from being buried deep into debt, you need to pay off all the balances in your credit cards every month. Most of them have interest rates between 13.5%-21%, and it’s definitely not smart to pay that kind of interest.

If you cannot settle the entire balance, make payments that are more than the minimum due at the very least. The minimum amount that they charge is only the interest on the principal. You’ll never pay off your credit card if you‘ll pay only the minimum.

You can also call the credit card companies and request for lower rates. Sometimes, this really works. The companies would rather help you to pay your debt rather than carry the burden of a debt write-off.

Look out for cards with 5.9%-6.9% introductory rate so you can transfer your balance to them. It would be easier for you to pay the entire balance if the interest rates are low.

Finally, you can acquire a credit card debt consolidation loan so that you’ll only make one payment each month. A consolidation loan also has lower interest compared to other types of loans.

What Credit Card Debt will you pay Off First?

You‘ve charged everything to your card, and now, it’s time to pay up. If your credit card bills are up to your eyeballs and all you do is keep on paying the minimums, it’s definitely time to get serious.

When you start to pay more than the minimum amount, your debts will start to disappear. For example, paying only $60 on a $3,000 balance would take you 8 years to finish with $2,780 in interest fees. By just adding $50 more every month, your debt will be settled in only 3 years and you will also be spared interest charges of $1,800.

Experts also say that the best way to be debt-free is to attack the card with the highest percentage rate. Then when it’s fully paid off, move to another card with the next highest rate.

Another alternative plan is to knock off the low-balance bills first, especially if this will give you the encouragement you need to stick to your plan. But definitely, it makes more financial sense to pay off the card with the highest rate first.

Ultimately, the key to your pay-down plan is just to stick with it whatever happens. Soon, you will find that the minimum payments are inching down and the bills are getting paid off.

So track your spending everyday to know where the money is going. Look at your finances closely and determine how much money you can really afford to pay your credit cards every month.

Prevent Credit Card Debt and Save your Life

If you own several credit cards but your debts are still manageable, now is the time to be aware of debt prevention and reflect carefully on your next financial decisions. Ask yourself why you want those credit cards around.

Do you want them just to shop online occasionally? Use them when you travel abroad? Or do you plan to go on a shopping spree while spending the rest of your year struggling to clear the outstanding balance?

Majority of people don’t really intend to max out their credit cards. However, you would be surprised how easy it is to do so. In fact, somebody from Ireland actually killed himself because of his huge credit card debt. Then, the wife wants to sue the lenders for putting her husband into a position where he feels that it’s necessary to commit suicide.

Truly, there are many people who have thought of killing themselves because of debts. Credit card companies have given them far more credit than they can reasonably afford to pay back. Therefore, you need a lot of discipline and self control to prevent over-spending on your card.

Prevention is definitely better than cure. And one of the best habits that you can do is to set up a direct debit arrangement so that you pay back everything you owe when the bill comes. This means that you still have the convenience to use the card but prevents your spending to get out of hand.

Should you Teach Good Money Habits to your Kids?

It’s alarming that credit card companies approve credit lines for students at an early age. Most high school seniors and college freshmen receive their credit cards even before taking the first mid-term exam! In addition, cross-marketing with retail affiliates (like Visa-issued Gap cards for example) make it easier to do impulse shopping.

Another concern is that financial literacy and money values are not taught in school. These days, teens want instant gratification, and saving or long-term planning is a thing of the past.

With material expectations and peer pressure, many teens are now viewing consumer credit as social entitlement and not as earned privilege. Added to that the promotion of some credit card companies where they offer electronic gadgets as reward for high purchases. They imply that the more people spend, the more “fun” they will have and the more “toys” they will receive. Thus, saying that a credit card is a “currency of fun” distorts the thinking of students that they have the right to pursue happiness through shopping.

Giving easy consumer credit to young people demonstrates a host of psychological and emotional problems. If they have poor payment habits, they will have poor credit reports. Later on, they might be shocked that they have been rejected for car insurance, auto loans, apartment rentals, home mortgages, or even jobs.

Don’t let this thing happen to your children. Teach them good money habits before going to college and save yourself a lot of headaches and heartaches in the future.

Avoid Credit Card Fraud

When companies ask for your personal data, you tend to give it away very easily. While most of these are for legitimate purposes, don’t you think that it would also be easy for criminals to have access to it and commit fraud?

When you have credit card fraud, you would be charged with debt that you do not owe. However, this is the worst scenario. Most credit card fraud can be prevented.

So it would be best to guard your private financial information to reduce the risk of crime. Be aware of the risks and take efforts to protect yourself.

First of all, you should never tell your PINs (Personal Identification Number) or passwords to other people. As much as possible, memorize these and don’t write them down. Also, get rid of receipts or documents that contain your personal and private information.

Some fraud happens online. Make sure you have an effective and updated firewall and anti-virus software to protect your computer from viruses that capture information. A phishing filter can also be used to check each website.

Always remember that banks or other financial institutions never call or send an e-mail to ask for your password information. Be cautious at all times to prevent credit card fraud. After all, you wouldn’t want to see an unexpected large credit card debt on your bill in the future.

Debt Consolidation Companies can help you get Freedom from Credit Card Debt

Imagine yourself being free from credit card debt – no more threats from collection agencies, no more anxiety, and no more sleepless nights. If you think you can get out of debt on your own, then go ahead and do it. However, some people need a third party to help them through this process. If that’s the case, then you need to seek the services of a debt consolidation agency.

First of all, sit down and accept that you cannot afford to pay your debts now. Face all your latest bills and separate those “bad debts” from “ok debts.”

“Ok debts” are typically student loans or home mortgages. They have interest rates of 10% or less, and some even have tax advantages. On the other hand, “bad debts” include everything else – this is where your credit cards fall.

The next step is to minimize the use of your cards. Line them up on a table and retain one or two with the lowest interest rate. However, vow to use them only during emergencies. As for the rest, you can freeze them in your refrigerator, throw them behind any major appliance, or lock them inside a shoebox. Whatever you do, do not use them or put them back in your wallet.

Finally, try to negotiate for lower rates to pay off your debts faster. There are numerous debt consolidation companies out there to help you.

You can Pay Off your Credit Card Debts

In our current economy, credit card debt is like a plague that struck countless families. It can keep you from getting good rates on a car loan or home mortgage. In addition, making monthly payments to several credit card companies also adds stress to your cash flow. As a result, no money is left in case there are unexpected emergencies.

If you have credit card debt, financial experts agree that you should get out of it as soon as possible. Here are some steps to help you eliminate debt:

• Stop using any credit card. How can you get out of debt if you keep on adding to it? If you can’t bear cutting them out, at least leave them in your drawer at home.
• List all your credit card debts. Be very specific – the card’s balance, current interest rate, and minimum payment amount. This list will guide you to decide which card you would want to give extra payments to. The only way for you to eliminate debt is to pay more than the minimum payment set by the credit card company.
• Pay your cards on time. Late payment fees will definitely add up to your debt, so you should be vigilant about this.
• After paying off one card, use that extra cash to pay off another credit card, and then another. Soon you will wake up and find out that you have paid them all. Isn’t that the greatest feeling in the world?

Will you save your Child from Credit Card Debt?

Let’s say you found out that your child has thousands of debt in their credit card, will you save him or her? As a parent, maybe it’s normal for you to wish an easier life for your kids. However, it doesn’t mean that they’re not allowed to learn a few lessons from time to time. After all, problems and challenges are the ones that mold us to become better.

Still, it would be really hard to watch your kids struggle and lift their head above the sea of debt. There are emotional feelings such as insomnia, anxiety, and shame associated with it. But before you decide to bail them out, consider these things:

• Can you afford it? – Stop right here if the answer is no. You cannot jeopardize the health of your finances just by paying off your kids’ credit card debt. It would be a different story if they need money for a medical emergency or for food to eat, but credit card debts do not qualify for these kinds of crisis.
• Do you think your children already changed the old habits that plunged them into debt? - If it seems that they have learned their lesson and they’re making a lot of effort in repaying the debts, it would make sense for you to help. However, if they still spend money frivolously, refuse to work up a budget, and still keep their cards, then they probably do not deserve your assistance.