Credit Card Application - Establish Credit
| by Rebecca Ford | October 08, 2007
Establish a good credit history now for financial security later.
A credit card in your own name can help you build a good credit history, a valuable asset when applying for car loans, apartments, jobs or mortgages. Plus, there is no safer and more convenient way to make purchases if you shop online or over the phone.
But along with the benefits of owning a credit card comes responsibility, which, if mishandled, can cause serious financial problems. Learning how to choose and use a card is an important first step for anyone.
Know the rules
Pay at least the minimum due every month
The minimum amount due is the least you can pay every month to keep your account in good standing. Pay more than the minimum and you'll reduce the interest you pay.
Avoid late payments
If you miss a due date, you may be charged a late fee. And, a late payment may be recorded on your credit history. Be sure your payment arrives on time by sending it 5-7 days before the due date, even if you use on-line banking.
Spend responsibly
Don't exceed your credit limit
If you exceed your credit limit, a fee may be assessed. Over-the-limit fees are charged every month the amount of money you owe exceeds your credit limit.
Use cash advances only for emergencies
Taking frequent cash advances becomes expensive. Your card issuer may charge an extra fee for each cash advance and charge a higher APR than for regular purchases.
Go to URL or copy and paste to browser: http://honeybee.newcredi … ations.com
A credit card in your own name can help you build a good credit history, a valuable asset when applying for car loans, apartments, jobs or mortgages. Plus, there is no safer and more convenient way to make purchases if you shop online or over the phone.
But along with the benefits of owning a credit card comes responsibility, which, if mishandled, can cause serious financial problems. Learning how to choose and use a card is an important first step for anyone.
Know the rules
Pay at least the minimum due every month
The minimum amount due is the least you can pay every month to keep your account in good standing. Pay more than the minimum and you'll reduce the interest you pay.
Avoid late payments
If you miss a due date, you may be charged a late fee. And, a late payment may be recorded on your credit history. Be sure your payment arrives on time by sending it 5-7 days before the due date, even if you use on-line banking.
Spend responsibly
Don't exceed your credit limit
If you exceed your credit limit, a fee may be assessed. Over-the-limit fees are charged every month the amount of money you owe exceeds your credit limit.
Use cash advances only for emergencies
Taking frequent cash advances becomes expensive. Your card issuer may charge an extra fee for each cash advance and charge a higher APR than for regular purchases.
Go to URL or copy and paste to browser: http://honeybee.newcredi … ations.com
Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

You are welcome to publish or reprint this article free of charge, provided:
- you include the entire article, unchanged, including the "About The Author" box
- all hyperlinks remain active, including the bottom ArticleSet.com link (does not apply to print publications)
- you agree not to hold the authors nor ArticleSet.com liable for any loss profits, expenses, or any other damages resulting from the use or misuse of articles published on this website