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Before You Apply for Credit Cards, Ask These 3 Questions

 
By Eva Norlyk Smith, Ph.D.
May 22, 2009

It is easier than ever to apply for credit cards. It used to be that the only way to get a credit card application was by picking up bank brochures with credit card applications or by responding to credit card offers in the mail.

With the advent of the Internet, that has all changed. Online credit card applications not only offer great convenience, they also give you the option to choose among a wide range of great credit card offers. Whether you are looking for the best 0% balance transfer credit cards, great rewards credit cards, cash back credit cards, or low interest credit cards, you will have the largest selection of credit cards at your fingertips simply by going online. In many cases, you can apply for credit cards online and get a response instantly instead of having to wait for several weeks to find out whether your credit card application has been approved.

The many credit card offers available can make it hard to choose which credit card to apply for. People with excellent credit have access to the best credit card offers with great terms. However, even if you have good credit, you will still find that there are many credit cards for good credit to choose among. The choice of credit cards of people with poor credit is more limited. Still, if you are looking for bad credit credit cards, the choices are greater than ever.

Even within the different credit ratings there are many different categories of credit cards to choose between, including rewards credit cards, low interest credit cards, cash back credit cards, 0% balance transfer credit cards, and much more. To determine which category of credit cards to apply for, answer these three questions:

1. Do you plan to pay your credit card balance off in full every month?

If you simply are looking for the convenience of charging purchases to a credit card and plan to pay the balance off in full every month, your best option is to apply for a cash back credit card or a rewards credit card. This will enable you to earn rebates on all your expenditures, which can add up to a nice savings over time. While cash back credit cards, as the name implies, always pay you in cash, rewards credit cards offer numerous types of rewards, including free air travel and hotel stays, free merchandise, or even payments towards your mortgage principal. Click here to compare credit card offers for cash back and rewards credit cards.

2. Do you plan to carry a balance?

If you are looking to carry a balance on your credit card, your best option is to apply for a low interest credit card. A cash back or rewards credit card doesn’t make much sense in this case, because the interest would quickly eat up any cash back or rewards earnings. Use our credit card comparison guide to find the best low interest credit card.

3. Are you looking for a cash infusion?

If you need some extra cash or want to pay off credit card balances with a high interest rate, you could consider applying for a 0% balance transfer credit card. These vary greatly, so look for the credit cards that give you the longest 0% APR introductory rate. Look here for a list of great 0% balance transfer credit cards, or use our convenient credit card comparison guide for a quick overview of 0% APR credit card offers.

Once you have decided which category of credit cards to apply for, compare the credit cards within that category. Look for credit cards without annual fees that offer the best terms within that category.


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