Using a high interest credit card is like throwing money down
the drain! If you're wasting money with a high APR, you should
consider applying for a
low
interest or
0% APR
credit card instead. Although your credit score will
ultimately determine your interest rate, apply for a lower APR
and you could save a ton on interest charges. Here's an example
of how much you can save just by reducing your current APR:
Save with a Lower APR:
Your current credit card has an APR of 14.99%. But you've been
pre-approved for a credit card at 9.99%. Over the course of a
year, you could save 5% on interest. How does this add up?
Assume you have a balance of $5,000 on your credit card:
OLD CARD:
$5,000 x 14.99% =
$ 749.50 per year
NEW CARD:
$5,000 x 9.99% =
$ 499.50 per year
In this example, you could save up to $250 per year! If you had
a balance of $10,000, you could save twice as much! This extra
money could be used to pay down your current credit card
balances, or used to make cash purchases and avoid increasing
your existing credit card debt.
Save with a 0% APR:
Another great way to save money is using a 0% APR credit card.
These offers have become increasingly popular in recent years
because they offer a multitude of ways to avoid interest and pay
off your existing debt more quickly. Not only can you save on
new purchases, but you can pay zero interest on balance
transfers.Here's a simple example of how you can save:
Assume you have $5000 in existing credit card debt, or you will
make a $5000 purchase with your new card:
REGULAR CARD:
$5,000 x 9.99% =
$ 499.50 after 1st year
0% APR FOR 12 MONTHS:
$5,000 x 0.00% =
$ 0.00 after 1st year
With a balance of $5000, you could save almost $500 in interest
the first year! This savings could be applied to your balances
or used as cash!
Saving EVEN MORE:
You can clearly see the savings a 0% APR provides (especially
during the intro period). But if you transfer your existing
balances before the intro period is over, you can save much
more! Essentially, you can carry your credit card balances
interest-free as long as you switch your credit cards before the
intro periods end. Many people have taken advantage of this
method to pay off debts and save thousands of dollars in
interest. But be aware, switching credit cards too frequently
can have a negative impact on your credit score. So use this
method in moderation.
To see a complete list of 0% APR and low interest credit cards,
please visit:
ASAP Credit Card
About the author:
by
ASAP
Credit Card - Copyright © 2005
