Credit Cards: Low APR vs 0% APR

June 11th, 2010 - 

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Mano y mano, which one is better do you think a credit card with low, ongoing APR or one that offers 0% APR as an intro rate?

There are so many types of credit cards that offer all sorts of promotions and rewards that its definitely hard for a consumer to pinpoint which one would best suit their wants, needs and present financial situation. If, however, youve already managed to reduce your choices to just two and the battles simply between the low ongoing APR credit card and the 0% APR intro rate credit card then here are several tips to help you determine which one is the best credit card for you.

Are You Planning To Buy Anything Expensive Yes, the words zero percent can certainly be dazzling to the eye but is it something you really need? If youre planning to buy something very much expensive and thats beyond your budget then yes, it might be better if you go for a 0% APR intro rate credit card just as long as youre sure youll be able to pay off the full amount before the introductory period is over. Because if you cant and you dont, then whats the use of having 0% APR in the first place?

How Long Does The Introductory Period Last Generally, for credit cards offering 0% APR intro rates, the introductory period usually lasts from ninety days to fifteen months.

If youre going to purchase something expensive but you dont think you can pay it off before the introductory offer expires then its time to bring out your calculator once more. Compute how much your balance would be after the introductory period and see if its still lower than what youll pay with a low ongoing APR.

What Would The APR Be After The Introductory Period Going back to the previous situation, lets just say that you dont think youll be able to pay off the full amount in time. If the new APR is higher than what other low ongoing APR credit cards are offering then maybe, having a 0% APR intro rate credit card isnt the right credit card for your needs.

Are There Any Other Fees To Pay Whether its a 0% APR intro rate credit card or a credit card with a low, ongoing APR, dont forget to ask if there are other fees to pay. Naturally, its better to stick with the credit card with lower fees.

About 0% APR Credit Cards

April 30th, 2010 - 

APR, (which stands for annual percentage rate), is an important factor when deciding what credit card you want to sign up for. Specifically defined, APR is simply the rate of interest you will be charged by your credit card company. Credit cards offer a variety of approaches to APR. Some will offer you a fixed-rate APR, so youll be paying at a particular interest rate for the whole time you have a balance. Others will offer you an introductory APR. You start off with a very low interest rate then after a certain period of time, it would change to a higher rate. However, what you should try to look for are 0% APR credit cards. With 0% APR credit cards, you do not have to worry about an interest rate at all for a defined period of time. In fact, the average time period that most credit cards will offer a 0% APR is usually 6 months to 1 year. There are even a few 0% APR credit cards that may offer this rate for as long as fifteen months!

So, why do 0% APR credit cards exist? Its simple. By offering 0% APR credit cards, companies hope that their customers are going to embark on a spending frenzy. When the phenomenally low APR rate ends, 0% APR credit cards turn into credit cards charging a normal interest rate. The customer has to pay at this rate until their balance is paid in full.

For this reason if youre considering signing up for a 0% APR credit card, it is very important you do whatever you can to pay your balance before the 0% APR term is up. For example, if you get a 0% APR credit card that has a 0% APR for 1 year, you will have exactly 1 year to pay whatever balance you have before you get charged interest. To try and avoid having a balance that you cant afford, its best to spend small and pay it off as soon as you can. You may even want to make your own personal payment plan where you set aside some money thats to only be used for paying your credit card.

With that being said, if youre still interested in obtaining a 0% APR credit card, you should look no further than the Internet. Of course, it may be tempting to use one of the offers that come in the mail, but if you do that you may not get the best 0% APR credit card available. This is because there are some 0% APR credit cards that, in addition to offering a non-existent APR, also offer additional rewards. These can include: special points that can be redeemed for merchandise, travel rewards or even cash back. This means if you spend carefully enough, a 0% APR credit card can actually earn you free stuff or cash to help you pay your other bills. But if you sign up with just any 0% APR credit card offer you might receive in the mail, you may not get these advantages.

So, set the mailing aside and go on the Internet first. Visit a credit card comparison website, choose a card and follow the prompts to sign up for the offer. When you are finished, most 0% APR credit card sites will let you know in a matter of minutes if youre approved or not. If youre not approved do the process again. Keep doing it until you find the right 0% APR credit card. If you cant find anything, only then should you send in any mail-in offers you may have received.