All Credit cards Articles

You've sent for your credit report and paid extra for your credit score. Now what? You probably sent for it because you want to know one thing: How good (or bad) is your credit? But instead of a straight answer for your trouble, your report consists of a list of current and past debts plus a number. And what that number means can vary widely. "Every company sets its own Read more...

Consumers have plenty to worry about during a challenging economy, and making a wrong move in personal finances could make a bad situation worse. Obtaining cash through credit cards, retirement plans and home equity could end up being a costly quick fix. And complacency over personal investments and looming college costs could lead to missed opportunities for keeping hard-earned Read more...

Before Jay Foley inserts his bankcard into an ATM slot, he sticks his finger in first. Then, he wiggles it. "If any portion of it wiggles with my pinky, I walk away because odds are somebody has slapped a skimmer on the front," says Foley, executive director of the San Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center. "That applies to any kind of payment slot you might run across, Read more...

The terrible performance in the stock market recently has some very smart people thinking about violating some of the basic rules of investing. Here’s a question I got recently that makes the point. “Paul, with all due respect, although in most instances I would agree with you that it makes sense to eliminate credit card debt, paying it off at any cost and in all circumstances does not Read more...

The government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is designed to put downward pressure on mortgage rates and to ensure that home loans remain available. Those goals are made crystal clear in the statements made by public officials. The primary mission of the two mortgage giants "now will be to proactively work to increase the availability of mortgage finance," says James Read more...

The credit card habits that save you money also happen to keep your rates from rising and your credit limits from falling. Thank the big guy for small favors. The best way to protect against negative changes to your account is to "make sure you don't spend what you don't have, you don't carry a balance, you pay bills on time," says Ethan Ewing, president of Bills.com in San Read more...

How many credit cards should you have? Many people are afraid to have multiple cards. Some are afraid that they'll lose track of the different bills each month and fall behind on their payments. Others fear that the temptation of high credit limits will entice them to overspend. And some people fear that creditors, upon seeing multiple open credit lines, will be less likely to Read more...

Credit cards have become such central features of everyday life that the typical American family now is burdened by more than $9,000 in charges, and companies are trying to entice even kids as young as 13 to put it on plastic with their parents' OK. Debt -- not saving -- is the new American way and marks a major shift in our culture, says Robert Manning, a Rochester Institute of Technology Read more...

If you're getting married and are thinking about going into debt to pay for your wedding, you should think again. You'll be married (one hopes) for a lot longer if you don't finance your wedding than if you do. The No. 1 cause of marital stress and divorce is, you guessed it, fighting over money! And why would you want to be paying off a one-day event years after the fact instead of having fun? Read more...

NEW YORK (AP) - As debit cards grow in popularity, more Americans are starting to use them to shop on the Internet. Before you join their ranks, there are pros and cons you should weigh. Debit cards -- also known as cash cards, money cards, check cards or ATM cards -- have an advantage over credit cards because they don't put you in debt. And many consumers find that debit cards help them Read more...

NEW YORK (AP) - Department stores, catalog companies and other retailers want customers to sign up for the merchants' own credit cards because they believe these cards make shoppers more loyal. So many retailers are offering incentives -- like 15 percent off purchases made with a new account -- to persuade more consumers to use the cards. Credit experts, however, remind the nation's already Read more...

Check cards have increased in popularity this decade because consumers like the ability to manage their money effectively in a convenient and secure way. But there are a few aspects that consumers need to be aware of so that they don't become problems. Account overdraft Common sense says that your spending is limited to the amount you have in your checking account. But with Read more...

You know you need to go on a diet if you have three pizzerias and a donut shop on your speed dial. But what is a sign your credit card debt is in trouble? Catherine Williams, vice president of financial literacy for Money Management International, in Chicago, says the danger point for credit cards comes, "when you have to spend more than 20 percent of your take-home pay on Read more...

They are just starting to trickle in, those holiday bills. It turns out you not only took in too many calories, you also dug into your wallet too many times. If only those holiday pounds came off as quickly as the cash flies out of your account. If gaining control of your finances was a New Year's resolution, you are not alone. "One of the most important things to do is sit down and get a Read more...

It's the vacation version of the old grocery store conundrum: cash or plastic? For most instances, a credit card is the best bet when you travel, hands-down. But when you want to get a little spending money, an ATM card is a great resource. Save when using plastic Here are a few tips to smooth out the financial wrinkles and give you that hassle-free vacation you've been Read more...

You know you need help from a credit counselor when ... It may sound like a comedy routine opener, but lots of people know it's definitely not a laughing matter. Many who are weighed down with debt opt first for self-help, trimming back on spending and keeping a close eye on accounts. But much like losing weight, some people have the willpower to shed pounds on their own while others Read more...

Most people understand that low credit scores will translate into higher mortgage and credit card interest rates. But few realize there are plenty of other insidious ways that low scores can add to a person's payment costs. Where credit hurts Car insurance Cell phones Car loans Elective medical procedures Job School loans Housing Marriage Utilities Read more...

QUESTION: What is your feeling about the necessityto purchase credit card insurance? I did not used to feel it wasnecessary until I lost my job last fall and have only been able toobtain part-time employment at less than half of what I was making.Could you offer some advice on questions to ask the credit companyprior to authorizing the purchase of the insurance?ANSWER: Insurance needs tend to be Read more...

Mastercard, Visa or Discover? There's a lot more to selecting a credit card than the brand. Read the fine print. Credit card offers that look the same may differ significantly from one another. Their terms and conditions can have a major impact on how much you pay, especially if you carry a balance. Keep reading the fine print. Credit card companies have wide leeway to change Read more...

Look through your wallet. How many credit cards do you count?Have promises of better rates, perks and lower fees caused your walletto overflow and your mailbox to be stuffed with hundreds of offers eachmonth?While most Americans carry between five and 10 credit cards, somepeople carry up to 50 -- which could wreak havoc on your credit score.So, how many credit cards should you have?Most experts Read more...