Don’t File Bankruptcy

There was a time when credit was not very easy to get. Borrowing money for any reason was actually considered shameful, and being “in debt” was simply scandalous. If people wanted to buy things that they wanted or needed they simply SAVED; they did without those things until they could afford to pay for them in cash. Isn’t It kind of strange, how things have changed in the span short of a life time!

In pursuit of mammon, those banks have used every marketing strategy possible to make you want something now, not later, after all why wait a lifetime when you can have it now!

Simply put, anyone who wants one can get a credit card. It seems you don’t even need a social security number and to prove the point, one man in California responded to one of those “pre-approved” ads that came in his email and applied for a credit card in his dog’s name.

In the “age” section he inserted the number “3″ and for a social security number he entered 000-00-0000. The card was produced.

It’s so frightening that people have become brain washed into not thinking about the future consequences of borrowing money using credit cards. It’s easy for people to get into deep debt using credit cards.

The banks and credit card companies do a great job, they make you believe that using a credit card is not like you are borrowing money, but that is exactly what you are doing. If you use a credit card to pay for your dinner and a movie, you’ve borrowed money to pay for the dinner and a movie, and the bill will come due at the end of the month. If you don’t pay the balance on a credit card in full when payment falls due, then every item that you purchased just cost more because you’ll be charged interest. As they say it is easy to borrow – but wait … paying back from funds that you don’t have is never easy.

Or put it another way, if you fail to make the minimum payment on time, you’ll be charged penalties and additional fees.

I know, I know - I don’t sound like I am crazy about credit cards. I’m really not, but they are a necessary evil in today’s mobile world. You can hardly make an online purchase without using a credit card.

So what’s the answer?  Well here are some suggestions:

1. The answer is to get ONE credit card. At the end of each month, pay the entire credit card balance.
2. Do NOTuse credit cards for everyday expenses.
3. Don’t purchase groceries or pay for the dinner and movie with a credit card.

Majority of all bankruptcies filed today are directly related to credit card abuse. You can avoid that. Students beware of this pitful

The sad thing is that my 7 year old son recently said to me, dad why don’t you buy me the computer game using your credit card – I had to take him to one side and give him a simple explanation of the dangers of borrowing and the fact that you have to pay it back.

It is with much regret that some of us will wonder where did it all go wrong - the lessons of our parent’s generation we have failed to heed – live within your means.

Meanwhile, the shareholders of these financial institutions and there directors continue to become richer at the expense of those who fall into the debt trap.

Although there are many credit cards to be found everywhere. Choosing one however, should reflect one’s lifestyle and how your spending habits are. Looking for the best possible offer and the best credit card company, you will need to look around at what you have to choose from and what will really work best to your advantage.

When choosing a credit card, you will first need to decide what your needs might be for that card. Some people want a credit card simply for the purpose of cash flow. Making purchases on a credit card, can then free up your income. You can put that money in your bank account and let it draw interest. This allows your money to earn interest, all the while you are still able to buy the things you need. Then, when the credit card bill comes in, you pay it in full, in order to avoid finance charges.

Instant cash purposes is another popular reason people get credit cards. They are then able to use the credit card at any ATM to obtain cash. Credit cards used for these purposes are great for an extended vacation or when traveling in general. If this is your sole purpose for obtaining a credit card, make sure that you find one with the lowest instant cash transaction rate.

Of course, with any credit card you should pay attention to monthly payments. You’ll either have to make the minimum payment, or pay off the balance every month. When you choose a card, check out the balance transfer rates, as well as any introductory rates that apply, and incentives that might work for new card holders. People with good credit can actually get some really amazing deals.

Incentives are something else to pay attention to. Many cards have incentive programs like cash back on some purchases or reward point programs. All you have to do is look for a credit card incentive program that appeals to your needs.

Remember to look at the Annual Percentage Rate, or APR. When your initial incentive period is over, you’ll have to pay the APR instead. APRs vary between credit cards, making it important to compare rates by shopping around. A lower APR is always better feature to look for.

Another thing to take a good look at is the minimum monthly payment. Many credit card companies require that you pay at least three percent of the total balance. Some cards are lower, and others require a lot more as a minimum payment. No matter what the minimum payment is, pick a card that has the longest possible interest free period. That’ll help keep your monthly payments as low as possible.

When you make that final decision and choose your credit card, you should always make sure that you know exactly what you are getting. Credit cards are great to have, although they can lead to a downfall if you don’t choose them carefully. If you put some time and research into choosing your credit card, you’ll find the best one for you. As long as you take care of your credit card and pay the bill on time, you’ll help raise your credit and eventually be able to purchase even bigger things - such as a new car or that dream vacation.