Credit Card Now

When it comes to card offers, cash back credit cards are just one form of rewards systems designed to entice consumers to accepting a credit line. This bonus appeals to many people because they believe they are saving on their credit card bill by earning some of their purchase price back. However, it is important that you consider whether this type of credit card would actually benefit you and your wallet.

It is important to keep in mind that you will not earn a ton of money back with cash back credit cards. They work on a percentage, typically ranging from 1% to 5% of your qualifying purchases.

Therefore, if you spend $1000 on your card in a given month, you could earn back $10-$50, depending on how well the incentive pays. Unless you make several large purchases each month, you should be aware that the perk is not a very beneficial one.

However, there are business credit cards that offer cash back awards.

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Tags: Back Credit, Back Credit Cards, Cards, Credit Cards

In my latest blog, Susie got her Super Bowl tickets. But now, I get to hang out with Beyonce and Gwen Stefani — sort of.

MissThrifty chose my blog — which detailed the happy ending to one Bank of America cardholder’s six-year quest to earn a trip to the Super Bowl with rewards points — to be part of this week’s 269th Carnival of Personal Finance. MissThrifty dubbed it The Divas Edition and sprinkled the carnival with video clips from great musical divas past and present. Beyonce and Gwen are there, as are legends Billie Holliday, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey and more.

Check it out. You’ll find lots of great tips on how to be smart with your money and hear some great music, as well.

Tags: Blog, Bowl Ticket, Super Bowl, Super Bowl Ticket

When a loved one passes away, the last thing on your mind is their credit card bills.

However, in order to protect the deceased’s estate from additional charges, fees, or even identity theft, it’s important to remember that your loved one’s credit cards will remain open and active until you take the following three steps.

1. Call Credit Issuers and Close the Accounts

Round up all your relative’s credit cards and/or credit card statements and determine which credit card companies you need to contact. You should be able to find the right contact information either on the back of the credit cards or their monthly statements.

When you make the call, let the customer service agent know right away that you would like to close the account of a deceased relative. Most cr

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Tags: Deceased, Deceased Relatives

“What can we do to make our credit card your No. 1 card?”

I was stumped by the question posed by a cheery-voiced customer service rep last week. I had called my credit card issuer to request a copy of the credit card agreement for one of my cards.

My colleague Jeremy M. Simon was writing an article about how several credit card issuers, including Bank of America, were no longer revealing penalty interest rates to potential and existing customers and he wanted to see an agreement.

For those who don’t know, a penalty interest rate is the rate that you will be charged if you screw up and miss payments. It is a higher rate than the normal APR for purchases. It’s also known as a default rate.

Why the mystery?
But what exactly would that rate be if I should default on the account?

OK. Let me stop and just say I’m not in any danger of defaulting. T

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When you’re looking for a balance transfer credit card application, there’s usually a reason. Balance transfer cards are a great way to gain some breathing space if you’re paying a large amount of interest, but they can also create more problems than you anticipate. Before you set out to make your application, keep these thoughts in mind.

Who should get a balance transfer card…

The only reason to make a balance transfer credit card application is to gain a bit of breathing space. If you’re suffering from an extremely heavy debt, a balance transfer credit card won’t help in the long run. What it can do, however, is give you a few months of low interest or no interest where you can make payments and lower your principal.

In these tough economic times, many of us need every advantage we can get.

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Tags: Card, Card Application, Credit Card, Credit Card Application