Balance Transfer Credit Cards - Which One For You?

If you have any kind of existing credit card balances, balance transfer credit cards may be just the thing you need to reduce your credit card debt. They can also help you save money in other ways, too. Here are some ways that a balance transfer credit card can save you some money.

0% APR Interest

The first way it can save you money is that, hopefully, the new card gives you a 0% APR interest introductory offer for balance transfers. You will need to double-check the fine print on the credit card to be sure that this rate applies to balance transfers. Most often it applies to the interest rate on your purchases, and only on some cards will it apply to transfers. If you also get that rate of interest on your transfers, then be sure to notice how long that you get that rate for. The rate on balance transfers is often different than the length of the introductory offer.

The 0% APR interest generally applies to your purchases made during the introductory time period. This gives you great savings over that time frame, but be sure to pay off the balance each month - and on time, for the best savings. Any late fees take away any savings you get, otherwise, and you may actually end up paying more than if you had made your purchase at retail prices.

Balance Transfer Fees

Another thing you need to look for is to see if there are any fees associated with the transfers. Some balance transfer credit cards will charge up to a hefty 4% of any amount transferred to the card. While this figure may sound good when compared to the interest on the other card, keep in mind that many cards will not charge anything.

Rewards

Choose your balance transfer credit card on the basis of this option, too, since you can definitely save some money here, if you get the right card. Rewards come in many types, but if you get one that is geared to your needs (most expenses per month), then you will probably be able to save considerably. A card with rewards on it means that you get either discounts on future purchases, rebates or cash back. This amount of savings can certainly add up after a while, and can put a smile on your face when your bill comes each month.

Remember to compare a number of balance transfer credit cards in order to see what kinds of deals are available. Also, be sure to look at the various fees, so that you do not lose the value of your rewards. There can be many fees on a credit card, but by shopping around, you may be able to get one that does not have very many, or, has fees that you can avoid with prompt and full payments. Get as low of an interest rate on the card as you can for the time after the introductory time period runs out ? or get a new card.

Joe Kenny writes for the Credit Card Guide, offering the latest 0% credit cards, visit today for introductory 0% balance transfers and start clearing credit card debt today. Visit today: http://www.cardguide.co.uk/

The Power of Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Have you given in to the temptation of balance transfer credit cards? You will be able to transfer the balance off other credit cards to balance transfer credit cards. You will then benefit from bonuses like low interest rates, and incentives for transferring a balance. But it would still be sensible to do your home work before deciding to go with this type of credit card. You see, these cards can worsen your financial situation.

Balance transfer credit cards will enable you to consolidate all your credit card debt into one. As a result, it will be easier to pay your balance and it can also reduce the amount of your monthly payments. However, you can actually end up paying more. Even though these credit cards offer no or low initial interest rate, the interest will eventually increase. When you choose to combine all your debt into a single large sum, you can pay a lot more once the interest rates increase.

You can pay a significant amount of the balance before the interest rates go back up to avoid this problem. You should also pay your monthly payments on time, so that you will not increase your balance. Staying on top of payments and setting a plan to pay off the debt is the best way to ensure that balance transfer credit cards help rather than harm. These cards are ideal if you have an effective plan to pay off your debt. Balance transfer credit cards enable you to deal with a single company, instead of dealing with multiple credit cards that have multiple interest rates, payment dates, and other fees.

These cards can offer you a low initial interest rate or no interest rate. Balance transfer credit cards will also give you a nice grace period to pay down your balance without any added fee. You can be free from a large amount of debt by budgeting out a plan that will lessen the debt balance before a new higher interest becomes active. If you are smart enough to maximize their benefits, balance transfer credit cards will become a blessing.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Balance Transfer Credit Cards and the Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.GetQualityCreditCards.com

Balance Transfers Can Help You Stop Putting Money Down The Drain!

Balance Transfers Can Help You Stop Putting Money Down The Drain!

 by: Claire Bowes

As you probably know, interest rates are at all time low right now and if you arent getting the best deal from your credit card company then they owe it to you to either lower your rate, or you owe it to yourself to find a better deal. You see, credit card companies need your business in order to succeed and if you refuse to pay a penny more than you have to then youll be doing yourself and others a big favour indeed. By doing this, youll avoid paying more than you should and the companies will stop treating its clients inappropriately.

Now that this is clear, we will talk about the essentials of balance transfers, how they work and how you can ensure that you get the absolute best possible deal.

1. First and foremost, understand what a balance transfer http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/balance-transfers.html is. A balance transfer is when you transfer the balance from one card to another in order to get a better interest rate than the one that you are currently getting.

2. Second, to find the absolute best deals, look to transfer balances on cards where the initial interest rate is 0% and the amount after that is lower than the one you have now. For instance, if youre a cardholder that has an interest rate of 27.4% on a 1000 balance and you only pay 150 a month for 6 months, you will not pay off the balance in 6 months. Instead you will pay 247 worth of interest and your balance after 6 months will be 346. In contrast, if you had a 0% card and make the same monthly payment then your balance will be reduced to 100 at the end of the 6 month period, a tremendous saving!

3. Third, dont throw those offers that you receive in the mail away. If you have great credit then youll likely have credit card companies vying for your attention. Just use this power to your advantage and find the very best 0% deal for you.

4. If no good deals seem apparent, then you have to find your own deals. You can do this by conducting a thorough search on the internet to see if you can find a 0% card offer.

5. Once youve done this, request information and then review it carefully. Pay close attention to the rate after the initial introductory period is over. For instance, if you have two choices of cards with 0% interest rates http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/0%-credit-cards.html for 6 months and one charges an interest rate of 15.00% after the initial period and one that charges 11.00% after the initial period then by all means choose the second one because it is by far the better deal overall.

6. Read and then reread the credit cardholder agreement a couple of times. Make sure that you understand all of the jargon and if you dont, find someone that does before you sign it. Review it closely to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible. For instance, when evaluating deals, you should ask yourself these questions:

   1. How long does the introductory rate last?

   2. What will be the rate after the teaser expires?

   3. What are the cards annual fees? Can they be waived?

   4. Are there any transfer fees that you should be aware of?

   5. Are there any perks that are offered? (Ex. frequent flier miles, free gifts, etc).

7. Once youve decided on an offer, fill out your application fully and get it in the mail as soon as you can.

8. Once you get the offer, make sure that it is a 0% teaser rate and if it isnt, then contact the company right away. If they arent open to doing so then tell them that youre cancelling the card and look for another company that delivers what they promise. Your primary goal is avoid the old bait and switch while simultaneously saving money on interest.

9. While waiting for your new card, make sure that you continue to pay on your old card to avoid glitches in your credit report and once you receive notification that the transfer has been made, make sure you contact the old company and make sure that they received the payoff amount.

10. After the teaser rate is up, dont be afraid to jump from one credit card to another after the teaser expires. You see, there is absolutely nothing wrong with surfing cards and taking advantage of 0% offers whenever you possibly can. Just keep finding and researching great deals.

Thats it my friend. Credit card transfers dont have to be so confusing and daunting. If you follow the above mentioned steps then you can and will win the balance transfer rate and stop throwing your hard earned money down the drain.Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of the Credit Card Centre http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/ where you will find further advice and tips on the best credit card deals http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/best-credit-cards.html , balance transfers and 0% credit cards http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/0%-credit-cards.html .