Posts Tagged ‘Money’

Student Credit Card – How To Choose The Right One

Getting a student credit card is not hard to do. The problem comes in how it is used. Your student should not be carrying large sums of cash each month to get through the month. It could easily be lost or stolen. I had a friend that was considered a genius. While we were at school he couldn’t remember from one day to the next what he had done the previous day, or where he put anything, including his money. Another friend constantly ran out of money by the middle of the month and was either borrowing form other students or on the phone crying to his father about needing more. Not to say I was a saint, but that is another story.

A student credit card may be the first line of credit your child has. It will depend on the child if they understand the responsibilities of having one. Student credit cards can come with a monthly limit or with no limit at all except for the bank limit. You have a choice in that matter, because usually the student will need a co-signer for that card.

In a credit based family a child may have signature loans by the time they are twelve. My uncle was one of those people. They used a well known institution for signature loans and he would take out six month to one year loans for music equipment that he was easily able to pay back in half the time. By the time he was sixteen his credit rating soared and to this day he has no problems with getting what he wants when he wants it.

Most of us are not that lucky however, and some students just are not driven by desire. A student credit card should not be a gift and should not be considered a gift by the parents. The students themselves should be mentally-aware of how to handle finances. If your child is one of those that still has a quarter when you give them the second one a week later, then chances are they can handle a credit card. If it was lost or spent, you may need to start worrying.

For the sake of the article we will assume that, while yet unproven, there is no indication that your student will use the credit card for junk. First sit down with the student and decide what the credit card will be used for. Keep in mind that a cola and pizza a day adds up to over 4475 plus tips, in credit over a year! The sum does not take into consideration other meals and snacks. A single candy bar at a school could easily add up to 365 pounds in credit over a year, if they only ate one a day. Try to remember your eating habits when you were a student.

Dormitory, apartment rent, books and tuition should be paid by check. If there is a car involved it should also be paid for by check, unless you and your student are familiar with online banking and the great benefits a good system offers.

If you are giving support to your student you can setup an auto withdrawal from your bank account each month to payoff the student credit card payments. The credit card can be great for just about anything but it, just like everything else, needs to be in moderation, and I mean moderation within your budget, not necessarily the students budget.

After you have decided on what the credit card will be used for go online and start searching. Make sure you pay attention to the all of the details of the card, and all of its terms and conditions. Above all, make sure there is an automatic bill payment feature so the card is never paid late.

If you have a credit card but are fed up because you have a low limit, then now is the time to start getting your limit increased. It might seem tricky to get your limit increased, but if you follow a few simple steps then your credit limit will gradually increase to the level that you want.

Prove your creditworthiness

The most important step to getting a higher credit limit is to prove to the lender that you are worthy of a higher limit. This involves showing that you are financially stable and that you can make the payments back on what you borrow.

Borrow wisely

To show your lender that you are worthy to get a higher limit, you need to borrow wisely. If you use your card wisely and show that you can handle debt and pay back what you owe, then the lender will feel safe in lending you more.

Use you card regularly

If you want a higher credit card limit then you need to use your card on a regular basis. Keeping your card for emergency use will make it hard for the lender to understand your financial stability and payment history. If you use your card regularly then you establish a buying history and the lender is more likely to increase your limit.

Keep up with payments

Obviously, to prove yourself a good borrower you need to keep up with your payments. Make sure that you always pay on time, because paying late costs you money and will affect your chances of getting a higher limit. Also, make sure you always remain within your limit and that you pay more than the minimum each month. Using your card regularly and paying off the balance each month shows you are a good borrower and financially stable. This is the quickest way to improve your credit limit.

Advantages of an increased limit

Increasing your credit limit, even if you dont want to use the credit, can be a good idea. With an improved limit you have increased buying power, and have the knowledge that you can afford purchases in an emergency situation. Also, having a higher limit can improve your credit rating, especially if you dont spend the limit. It shows other lenders you are a trusted borrower but that you can control your spending.

Extra isnt always best

Remember, although getting a higher credit limit can improve your buying power, unless you can afford to pay the money back it can be dangerous. The best way to use your credit cards is to get a limit that suits your needs and that you can afford to pay back easily. However, if your limit is too low for you right now, then simply keep paying on time and show you can handle a bigger limit. If you do this then you will quickly improve your credit limit to the level you need.

Credit Card Balance Transfer How To Use It To Your Advantage

A credit card balance transfer is not right for everyone. Just like most of the options in the world of finance there are some definite benefits to getting your own balance transfer credit card as well as some pretty significant downsides. The key to success with any kind of balance transfer or any other financial product or service is to first learn all that you can about that particular subject before you can understand how to use it to your advantage. Never jump into getting a balance transfer credit card without all the facts, this is where so many people end up in hot water, they leap before they look and when it comes to money that is always a bad combination.

The benefits of a balance transfer are great in many cases. For example who doesnt want to be able to switch the balance from one credit card with high interest to one with no interest at all? That is exactly what you can do when you have a new credit card that is still enjoying its interest free period. Of course if you do not have one of these you may simply want to perform the credit card balance transfer in order to enjoy a lower interest rate. This can save you thousands of pounds a year if you are looking at a significant amount of credit card debt.

There is a growing movement of consumers who are getting credit card after credit card so that they can constantly perform balance transfers. This is easy to do as all you need is to make sure that you are approved for a new credit card when the interest free period of your old one runs out, ensuring that you can simply perform a credit card balance transfer to the new card and once again enjoy paying no interest. Sounds easy, right?

This kind of balance transfer is straightforward and anyone can do it if they have a halfway decent credit rating. And if you can control your spending habits it might even be a good idea as the balance transfer credit cards will allow you a nice amount of breathing room and the time you need to start paying off the principle rather than just the interest on your loan. If on the other hand, you are like most people and you find it hard to not spend money when you can, then a credit card balance transfer is probably not the best solution for you.

There is nothing more difficult than curbing spending. If you have the available space on your credit card, are you going to be able to say no to those wonderful jeans you saw in the store window? What about that fantastic stereo you just saw the other day? Can you resist them? You must be able to if you want to use this technique of avoiding interest with credit card balance transfers. If you are in doubt then find another way!

More and more balance transfer credit cards are hitting the market today because the industry is recognizing what a powerful tool balance transfers can be for consumers. Everyone wants to save some money and the sad fact is that it can be very difficult, especially since having credit cards makes it so easy to spend more than we actually have. A credit card, especially a balance transfer credit card, can be a powerful weapon in your financial management toolbox; you just need to know your limits and your weaknesses. That is the only way to avoid trouble with balance transfers.

A credit card balance transfer could be your saving grace; then again perhaps it is the wrong solution for you. The only way that you can be sure is to learn all you can about the credit card balance transfer process and all of its pros and cons.