A credit card can be a wonderful thing, at least if you use it wisely. A low interest credit card in particular has a lot of benefits for consumers. Perhaps you still use your first credit card from along ago and never wanted to get another card. You might be quite happy with that old card you've had so long, but as a consumer you may be much better off by getting a new, low interest credit card.
There are a lot of credit card companies out there who would like your business and will offer various incentives to try to get you to sign on. The competition is fierce, meaning you are likely to have little or no trouble finding a low interest credit card. However, as always with a credit card, read the fine print before you send off that application.
Your interest rate will be largely determined by your credit history. The better of a credit history you have, the more favorable the interest rate on your card will be. If you have a few minor problems in your credit history, you might still be able to get a lower interest rate than your current card has. Shop around.
Many people carry a balance on their credit card from month to month. If you are one of these people yourself, you can save a lot of money by switching to a low interest credit card. You can pay off your balance much faster with a lower interest rate. Some companies even offer a 0% rate of interest if you switch your balance over to their low interest credit card. With no interest, you can quickly pay off your credit card.
Maybe you are one of those who always pays the balance on your card before it comes due every month. Even if you are one of these people, a low interest credit card can be very useful to you after all, you never know when something may come up which prevents you from paying before the due date. If this happens, the low interest rate is a real lifesaver.
Are there any downsides to these cards? The initial term of a 0% card or low interest card will generally be six months. After these six months, the interest rate usually goes up, sometimes by quite a bit. If you manage to pay off all of your credit card debt by that time, you will have done very well with this card. On the other hand, if you are unable to do this, you may wind up paying more than you would have otherwise. This can wipe out the benefits you have gained. Credit card companies will usually notify you that your period of 0% interest or low interest is nearing its expiry, don't count on this.
Always look over your credit card statement for any errors. If everything looks right, go ahead and pay off the whole balance if this is possible for you. Doing so will save you a lot in payments of interest. Do not pay the minimum payment unless you absolutely cannot afford to pay more. The minimum payment is usually around 3% of the total balance, meaning it will take a very long time to pay off the balance and end up costing you a lot more money in the long run.
If you are unsure of anything, or have any questions, don't be shy about getting in touch with your credit card company to head off any problems.
