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Balance Transfer Credit Cards – An Overview
What Is A Balance Transfer Credit Card?
Simply put, a balance transfer credit card allows you to transfer your card balances over from your other credit cards. Through this transfer you can save money on the APR. If you can consolidate all your balance to a single credit card, you can easily keep track of your debt.
Why Should I Transfer My Balances To A New Credit Card?
Balance transfer credit cards, when used correctly, can help you save money. Most people keep a balance on one credit card, a separate balance on yet another, and pay a high APR to maintain both of them. Balance transfer credit cards have outstanding introductory APR’s and the very best balance transfer credit cards will have a comparably lower ongoing APR as well.
Some of the best balance transfer credit cards offer an introductory APR of 0% for an extended period. Those people who are in a debt trap can take advantage of this offer. There are even some balance transfer credit cards which prolong the introductory ARR of 0% until you have paid off all the balance that you have transferred. Certain balance transfer credit cards have a fixed rate and the rate remains the same until you pay off the balance transferred. This type of card, often times lacks the introductory 0% APR offer.
Things to Remember
It is not difficult find a balance transfer credit card, and in fact, you might have already been receiving solicitations from several credit card companies. But finding the best balance transfer credit card can sometimes be a murky affair. Understanding certain key elements regarding these cards can help you to choose the best.
Most people fall for the introductory offer given by the balance transfer credit cards. But this is only for a specific period of time. The period of time offered on these introductory APR balance transfer cards is often times determined by your credit history. So while selecting a balance transfer credit, keep a close eye on the introductory offer. Make sure that the introductory offer will work in your favor.
In some instances, some credit card companies will require an initial balance transfer along with the application for the card. Some people might not be comfortable with such a demand. The best balance transfer credit cards provide flexibility on balance transfers that will allow you to transfer balances at anytime during the introductory period.
Some of balance transfer credit cards might have a fixed rate introductory offer which is not a 0% APR on balance transfers, but is very low, remaining constant until you pay off the balance.
Most balance transfer credit cards have a transfer fee. Make sure that the transfer fee does not negate the financial advantage you are trying to get from the whole process. This aspect should be considered seriously by people who are planning to transfer balances from two or more cards. There will be no transfer fees incurred with the very best balance transfer credit cards.
You should compare your existing cards interest rate with that of the balance transfer credit card. While comparing include all the fees associated with each card as well. And if you are planning to use your balance transfer credit card for ongoing purchases, make sure to get the complete details, including ongoing APR’s on purchases, penalties, late payment fees and any miscellaneous surcharges that might be incurred when using the card in this manner. Make absolutely sure that there are no hidden charges.
A Guide to Emergency Cash Loans and Payday Loans (Page 1 of 3)
In this rapidly deteriorating economic climate, emergency cash loans and payday loans are becoming increasingly popular. The problem with these is that more and more people that have never required a short term unsecured loan in the past are finding a need to obtain one for that rainy day for which they have no longer been able to save up.
Many people are spending their savings, and the term life savings is now a bit of a joke. Those that can afford a life savings scheme dont need it, and those that need it cant afford it. Of course I dont mean that literally, because many people are saving and need their savings, but nevertheless the sentiment is pretty accurate. Saving is getting harder, and when that unexpected expense comes along then those that not too many years ago would have had something put by to cover it no longer can.
Hence the upsurge in emergency loans and payday loans, and there is really very little to chose between them. This guide is intended for the newcomer to this type of short-term borrowing, and how you can make it work for you, or how it can cost you more than you can rally afford. Its all about using the loan for the right reason and paying it back as agreed.
THE AMOUNT
Unless you are dealing with a company with few morals, you will likely be offered no more than up to $1,000 for your first loan. Some companies restrict that to $600 for first time customers. The reason for that is that the loan is not secured, and even though legal action would sequester the cash back from your income, most loan companies would rather not do so for a large amount, and it is easier and less expensive to recover a small amount than a large amount.
Once you have successfully repaid your first loan, then the amount you can subsequently borrow steadily increases.
THE REASON
The reason for taking such a loan has to be compelling. If you can borrow from a family member or good friend then do so because it will ultimately be less expensive for you (unless they charge you a high rate of interest!). It is not economical to use an emergency loan to pay another loan, although if you are in danger of defaulting on accredit card payment you might think the extra expense worth maintaining your good credit record: no price can be put on that.
However if your credit is shot, as it is with many people seeking emergency cash, it would likely make no difference other than the fact that you could likely negotiate lower charges with the credit card provider than you would get with a payday loan.
There are other reasons for needing emergency cash loans apart from being unable to pay regular bills, among them family deaths where the life insurance is insufficient to meet all the expenses. This is becoming more common as process rise while investment rates remain stagnant. The same is true at the other end of the life scale: weddings. These too can be high cost events that few couples or their parents have had the opportunity to plan for financially.