0% APR credit cards are screaming at you from advertisements. There are many different credit card offers out there, and of course when you see the 0% it seems like it would be the best option. But, when you sit and think about it you might wonder why one credit card would be 0% and the other would be 26%, what's the catch?
Understand what the issuer is really offering you. You never know what you are in for unless you read all the terms and conditions associated with the card.
0% Doesn't Mean 0% Across the Board
While there are some legit 0% credit cards out there you need to look at the fine print before you simply assume that you can buy everything with no interest. Usually when you look at the fine print you will realize that the 0% applies to one aspect of credit card use. This isn't to say that you shouldn't take advantage.
If you have some credit card balances that you would like to transfer than you may want to look for a 0% credit card. There are many credit cards out there that offer 0% balance transfers. It may not be the panacea that issuers walk about, but balance transfers at 0% can significantly lower your interest outgo. Many people use these cards to do away with those high interest credit cards so that they can actually start making a dent in the amount of money that they owe instead of just paying off the interest each month.
0% offers on select purchases are exciting to most credit card holders. These may be purchases at specific stores or for specific products, but depending on what you purchase these credit card offers really can save you a lot of money. You'll need to be sure to read all of the fine print on these cards to be sure that it is something that will save you as much money as you would hope.
0% also makes for a great initial offer to get customers interested. Often times this 0% is good for the first six months or a year that you have a card. This is a nice way to consolidate debt, make big purchases, pay for car or house repairs, or just buy things that you have been putting off because you didn't want to pay interest. .
Before you choose any one of the 0% credit cards that you come across you should read through all of the features. It is important that you do not get taken in by all the commercials. Focus on not just the initial interest rate, but also on eventual interest rates. Do you need to pay off all of the items that you bought during the 0% time? Some people save money using plastic money. Others lose money. It all depends on you. And how smart you are.
