Kellys Credit Information

Winning The Credit Game!


Everywhere we go, the word credit can be found, shining huge dollar signs in front of our very eyes. Everyday we receive solicitation and promotions offering us credit. Credit actually makes the financial world go round, yet just the mere mention of the word can make many people very nervous. So why does credit get such a bad reputation?

It's been my experience that credit falls into the same category as politics and religion. People have very strong opinions about Credit. It has been around since the beginning of mankind. People would borrow either goods or services, to be repaid at a later date with interest. There's nothing wrong with that. And like anything else, it can be used, or abused.

There are programs that allow you to borrow from your IRA, or you can borrow from the equity that had built up in your home. Credit card companies often offer promotions to borrow money at a lowered rate of interest for a predetermined period. It's all good news for the consumer. One of the simplest ways to borrow money to use a Credit Card. The choices available are plentiful, with a variety of interest charges, annual fees, loyalty programs, and reward systems.

Many companies offer 6 months no interest credit. This is often an excellent way of saving money as you are basically given an interest free loan for those months. It's even more valuable if you are able to transfer some of the card debt from a different company into the interest free loan. The best advice is to make sure you always have the money in the bank, or in a savings account, to pay off your card when you are taking advantage of the interest free promotion.

That way you benefit from earning interest on your savings at your bank, but as soon as the interest free credit period has ended, you can pay the entire bill off without being hit for high interest charges. If you intend to pay off you credit card bill at the end of every month, there are many benefit programs and reward packages available.

You can receive award points every time you make a purchase with that card. These points can be redeemed in cash or discounts, and can even be used for the purchase of airline miles, etc. Some companies offer a consumer guarantee protection on items purchased with the card, and many will extend the warranties on those items. Many offer discounts such as car rentals, travel insurance, accidental damage insurance for any products you buy.

Also some companies charge an annual fee for using their card (especially business credit card accounts), so these should be considered against the cards benefits. If you are not paying off your monthly credit card bills, look for a card that offers a low interest. If you are paying off your monthly credit card bills, look for additional card benefits. Interest free credit periods are good news for saving money. Credit Cards are an effective, and easy way to borrow money for a short time. Be wise and prudent when deciding to use credit. The bottom line is the credit card companies want your business, and there is a credit card out there that can meet everyone's needs.

The author has been on both sides of the "credit" table. Through her experience she has been able to teach thousands of people about how to use credit responsibly.

Cecily Backstrom is passionate about credit and is the webmaster of Rapidly Moving Credit


MORE RESOURCES:

Town Hall

CREDIT MARKETS: Few Issues Cap Busy Week For Corporate Bonds
Wall Street Journal
In high-yield, Ford Motor Credit Corp.'s 7-year notes sold on Wednesday were similarly oversubscribed. Even secondary trading volumes have picked up since ...
CREDIT MARKETS: Tepid Auction, Refi Fears Dominate TradingWall Street Journal
Analysis: Equity 'volatility' vs credit market, what to believe?Reuters UK

all 355 news articles »


This is Money

The New Credit-Card Tricks
Wall Street Journal
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, known as the Card Act, was intended to reshape the contours of consumer finance. ...
What is a merchant supposed to do when a credit card is left at his or her ...Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
5 Ways to Quickly Boost Your Credit ScoreU.S. News & World Report (blog)
Do prepaid debit and credit cards affect your credit score?Helium
e-wisdom.com (blog) -Which? -CardRatings.com (blog)
all 16 news articles »


Christian Science Monitor

What Credit Cards Cost the Poor
The Atlantic
It's fairly well-known that less affluent people have trouble getting credit cards, and when they do they often are forced to pay higher interest rates. ...
Use Balance Transfers to Reduce Credit Card Debt, Says SmartBalanceTransfers.comMarketWatch (press release)
Who Pays For Credit Card Rewards?NPR (blog)
4 Common Fees and How to Avoid ThemU.S. News & World Report (blog)
The Economist (blog) -Forbes (blog) -JoongAng Daily
all 101 news articles »


MDC Holdings 2Q Loss Narrows, Helped By Tax Credit; Orders Up
Wall Street Journal
Outside of orders, home builders have seen better results in recent quarters, helped by the federal government's tax credit given to first-time home buyers. ...
M.D.C. Holdings Announces Second Quarter 2010 ResultsMarketWatch (press release)
Homebuilder MDC Holdings narrows loss in Q2 as closings soar 71%Denver Business Journal

all 22 news articles »


US CREDIT-Lincoln National bonds attractive after earnings
Reuters
N) bonds may be a safe bet as the insurer enhances its liquidity, sees positive credit ratings actions and pays off its obligations to the US government. ...
Lincoln Beats, Growth Across BoardZacks.com

all 4 news articles »


FreightCar America gets $30M credit facility
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Railcar manufacturer FreightCar America Inc. said Friday that it has entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility for $30 million. ...

and more »


News Fire

Credit card debt reduction companies: The Real Deal
NewsChannel 9 WSYR
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Everyone has heard the ads for companies that promise to reduce credit card debt. For years, they've been charging big bucks upfront to ...
Credit Score Drops Tremendously in the USTimes News World (blog)
Giving credit where it is dueMail & Guardian Online
Why you need to go with a Credit Card debt consolidation company to get the ...TMCnet
OfficialWire (press release) -WDBJ7.com -CardRatings.com
all 62 news articles »


Give Mike Brown credit ... this signing was brilliant
Boston Herald
Brown didn't get much credit for that title, so it's only fair to give him credit for this: The signing of Terrell Owens was a masterstroke and should be ...

and more »


Weyerhaeuser Says Pace of US Housing Recovery Uncertain After Tax Credit
Bloomberg
“This has been especially evident in the market retreat following the expiration of the federal homebuyer tax credit at the end of April. ...

and more »


TheStreet.com

AT&T Bonds Fall After Unusually Timed Credit-Rating News
Wall Street Journal
The credit ratings agency also said it has concerns about AT&T's pension and post-retirement obligations. Gatlin, the AT&T spokesman, defended the company's ...
S&P upgrades Invesco credit ratingsBusinessWeek
S&P says may cut AT&T's credit rating by one notchReuters
AT&T's corporate credit rating faltersSan Antonio Express
TheStreet.com -Barron's (blog) -Dallas Business Journal
all 52 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006