Credit Cards

Best credit cards for first time user trying to establish credit:

• Petal Card, Inc. https://www.petalcard.com If you have a credit score we'll look at it, but if you don't, the Petal card is one of the only credit cards you can get without credit history or an up front deposit. If we need more information, clever algorithms can analyze more than just your credit score.

• Fresh start programs at credit unions: Many credit unions have programs in place for people who are looking to build or repair credit. And since credit unions are member-owned, they have a vested interest in helping you be the best credit customer possible. Credit unions sometimes refer to these as “fresh start” programs. Clark likes these because often the credit union will report your card activity to the credit bureaus as though it is a traditional card and not a secured card. “They do this because you have to have a relationship as a member of the credit union and you have to have money on deposit with the credit union. They either strictly or loosely base your initial credit limit on the amount of money you have in the credit union. A lot of the secured cards from credit unions have no fees or very minimal annual fees.” 

• Teach your teen good spending habits by managing money with a pre-paid MasterCard. This new website www.payjr.com gives you the ability to control how much he/she spends and where he/she spends it. You can register for free at the site and log on when you want to transfer money to your child’s credit card. You will get an e-mail or text message every time he/she uses it.

• If you had credit problems in the past or never had credit, you can put your money into a credit union in a program called FRESH START and they will issue you a "probationary" visa or master card with a low credit limit (a secured credit card). After you demonstrate a record of on time payments you are allowed to leave the probationary status and get a regular credit card.

• Also if you have no credit or damage credit use a secure credit card were you do a deposit and the only money you can take out is below your deposit. After 12-18 months of making on time payments you will graduate to a real credit card.

•  BlueBird American Express-Walmart can be used for specific uses and to have control over the user like use only for a specific trip or for a kid that is traveling. It is a prepaid card that can be used as cash and if your child needs more money you can add more like an ATM, can use it as a checking account, savings account, payment account, bill pay service. Bluebird is a financial account with flexible features and convenient money management tools to help you get more from your money. Bluebird offers many great features like FREE Direct Deposit, Online & Mobile Bill Pay***, FREE ATM Access at MoneyPass® ATMs, Mobile Check Deposit***, Family Accounts, and Membership Benefits. You can see the transactions of the other person, you control the flow of money and you only put in it the money they need. 

How to Build Credit without a Credit Card 

How Should I Choose a Student Credit Card? 

Petal Card Review: A Good Option for First Credit Card? 

Prepaid vs. Secured Credit Cards: What’s the Difference? 

What Is a Secured Credit Card and How Does It Work?

Secured Credit Card - 10 Questions About Getting One

I Recently Graduated From a Secured Credit Card and Need a Credit Limit Increase. What Can I Do?

5 Steps To Take Before Applying for a New Credit Card

How to Choose a Credit Card That's Right for You

To find the best deals go to www.creditcardratings.com and www.lowcards.com . Some credit cards offer up to 5% cash back. If you carry a balance use the lowest rate card. Best cash back cards for you can be found at NerdWallet or Credit Card Tune Up

At www.creditcardclients.com/savings-agent you can plug in your credit card name and balance and it will find a card with a cheaper rate.

How to make the most of your balance transfer card

How to Get Ahead With a 0% APR Credit Card

Go to www.creditcards.com that helps you switch from a high credit card rate to a lower rate

Block the furry of credit card offers or insurance  offers by calling 1-888-567-8688 or visit www.optoutprescreen.com .  Both are operated by the three major credit bureaus and are free of charge. You need to provide your name, address and social security number. You can opt out for family members if you are their legal guardians. Opting out lasts 5 years unless you send a written request stating it to be permanent.

What the Credit Card Companies Don’t Want You To Know

How To Destroy Metal Credit Cards

How To Stick to a Budget and Still Use Credit Cards 

Clark Howard: My 7 Rules for Using Credit Cards 

How Much Charge Volume Do You Need To Make Travel Rewards Credit Cards Worth It?

Max Out Your Credit Card Rewards with This Simple Trick

Will Collecting Numerous Credit Cards Hurt My Long-Term Credit Score?

What the Credit Card Companies Don’t Want You To Know

5 Credit Card Mistakes To Avoid

How to Stay Ahead of Your Credit Card Bills

When You're Behind In Credit Card Bills

What Is Your Credit Card's Effective Annual Interest Rate (EAR)?

Is It a Good Idea to Cancel Your Credit Card?

How to Use Credit Cards Like a Pro 

Using the right card 

How Many Credit Cards Should I Have? 

Why You Might Be Paying Your Credit Card Bills All Wrong 

What Happens When Credit Cards Expire?

How Credit Card Needs Change after Age 50 

How Many Credit Cards Should You Have?

Q&A: Downside of unused credit cards

How to Cancel a Credit Card Without Hurting Your Credit Score 

How and When to Cancel a Credit Card

What is Your Credit Card's Effective Annual Interest Rate (EAR)?  

How to Stick to a Budget and Still Use Credit Cards 

10 Credit Card Purchases to Avoid

When Should You Cancel a Credit Card? 10 Dos and Don’ts

QUOTES:

An Easy Method of Tracking Expenses:  My tip for saving money is to use one major credit card for all my essential expenses and another for all my non-essentials. Charges such as groceries, gasoline, electric, cell phones and internet are just some of my essentials that go on card one. Retail purchases, dinners out, and clothing go on card two. This monthly accumulation really puts my budget in perspective and lets me easily see just how fast these non-essentials rack up. I know the maximum on can put on my non-essentials card each month and stop spending each month once I reach it. Then I pay off both cards in full every single month and avoid any interest. M. from Dollar Stretcher Tips

A Strategy To Ensure You Always Pay in Full: We recently got out from under our credit card debt. Yes! We switched to a card with a very low introductory rate and rewards. I vowed only to use the card if I could cover the cost. Every time I make a purchase, I go online and schedule the payment that very day. Since starting this, not once have I not paid my balance in full. It works like a charm! Lisa from Dollar Stretcher tips

• If you had credit problems in the past or never had credit, you can put your money into a credit union in a program called FRESH START and they will issue you a "probationary" visa or master card with a low credit limit (a secured credit card). After you demonstrate a record of on time payments you are allowed to leave the probationary status and get a regular credit card.

• Also if you have no credit or damage credit use a secure credit card were you do a deposit and the only money you can take out is below your deposit. After 12-18 months of making on time payments you will graduate to a real credit card.

• Fresh start programs at credit unions: Many credit unions have programs in place for people who are looking to build or repair credit. And since credit unions are member-owned, they have a vested interest in helping you be the best credit customer possible. Credit unions sometimes refer to these as “fresh start” programs. Clark likes these because often the credit union will report your card activity to the credit bureaus as though it is a traditional card and not a secured card. “They do this because you have to have a relationship as a member of the credit union and you have to have money on deposit with the credit union. They either strictly or loosely base your initial credit limit on the amount of money you have in the credit union. A lot of the secured cards from credit unions have no fees or very minimal annual fees.” 

Carrying credit card debt? How to avoid debt relief scams 

Clark Howard’s 2024 Credit Card Debt Elimination Strategy

Should I Withdraw from My Roth IRA or Use Savings To Pay Off Credit Card Debt?

How To Avoid Loan Payment Pain

Relieving the Credit Card Payment Pinch

How To Use Your Credit Card After a Job Loss 

Get Control of Credit Card Debt in 2024: Tips and Strategies 

3 Reasons To Stop Using Credit Cards and Start Saving Some Cash

The #1 Bill You Should Get By Mail 

What Is Your Credit Card's Effective Annual Interest Rate (EAR)?

'Disjointing' Joint Credit Card Accounts

Handling Credit Card Debt Should Your Spouse Pass Away 

The Subtle Psychology of Credit Cards and Overspending 

The Best Credit Card Debt Repayment Options for Different Credit Scores 

Relieving the Credit Card Payment Pinch 

Getting Out of Credit Card Debt When You Can Only Pay the Minimums

How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt Fast – 6-Step Pay-Off Plan 

first step in getting credit card debt under control.

Credit Card Tips After You've Lost Your Job 

3 Reasons To Stop Using Credit Cards and Start Saving Some Cash

The #1 Bill You Should Get by Mail Instead of Electronically

Surprising Truth About Your Post-Death Credit Card Debt

How to Stick to a Budget and Still Use Credit Cards 

The Subtle Psychology of Credit Cards and Overspending

Dealing with Secret Credit Card Debt 

Get a Handle on Your Credit Card Debt 

10 Best Loan Consolidation Companies for Credit Card Debt Relief

When You're Behind in Credit Card Bills 

6 Steps to Pay Off Debt With a Credit Card Balance Transfer 

Why We Spend More Using Credit Cards 

6 Steps to Eliminate Credit Card Debt in 3 Years or Less 

The 3 Best Ways to Consolidate Credit Card Debt - And 2 Ways to Avoid It 

Pay Off Credit Card Debt 

What To Do When You Get Sued For Credit Card Debt 

The Best Credit Card Debt Repayment Options for Different Credit Scores 

The Subtle Psychology of Credit Cards and Overspending

Paying Down Credit Card Debt Faster 

The Cost in Wealth of Revolving Credit Card Debt

Ways to Take Control of Your Credit Card Habits

Dealing With Credit Card Debt Collectors

QUOTES:

A 'Consumer Conscience' to Keep Spending in Check: "Everyone who uses a credit card understands how it feels to open the bill at the end of the month and say, "Wow! I can't believe I spent that much!" I've found a way to have a "consumer conscience" that doesn't cost a thing and really helps keep spending in check. Every Monday, I place an envelope in my purse dated for one week. The first purchase is gas and I try to make this purchase last all week. The receipt for each purchase is placed in the envelope. I tally up the receipts midweek and am often surprised by how much I've already spent. An added bonus is if I need to return an item, the receipt is handy."  Donna from Dollar Stretcher Tips

How To Never Carry a Credit Card Balance: We recently got out from under our credit card debt. Yes! We switched to a card with a very low rate and rewards. I vowed to only use the card if I could cover the cost. Every time I make a purchase, I go online and schedule the payment that very day. Since starting this, not once have I not paid my balance in full. It works like a charm! Lisa from Dollar Stretcher Tips

🥶 Struggling With Credit Card Debt? Literally Freeze Your Cards

Struggling with credit card debt? You’re not alone. Americans collectively owed more than $1 trillion to credit card companies entering the third quarter of this year.

“Let go of embarrassment. Let go of shame. Do not beat yourself up. That doesn’t solve the problem,” Clark says. “Don’t hide from your bills. Don’t pick on yourself. Instead, develop a plan.”

For a typical card, if you only pay the minimum each month, you won’t pay it off until the 2050s or 2060s, Clark says. And that’s assuming you aren’t adding any charges to the card.

Take drastic action if credit card debt is a problem for you. You may need your freezer – literally.

• Get a freezer bag

• Put water in it

• Put all your credit cards in it

• Seal it

• Put it in the freezer

• Use a debit card if you’re shopping somewhere they don’t take cash

• Find a way to pay more than the minimums each month

“The power you feel if you get on a path of paying down that debt and month by month you see that balance wearing away, the power that’s coming back into your life is enormous,” Clark says.

Saving on Credit Card Interest Charges: When we were trying to get out of debt, I started paying close attention to our credit card statements. I noticed that the amount of interest tacked onto our monthly credit balance was figured on an "average daily balance." Typically, we would make our monthly payment right before it was due. I tried sending our payments as soon as we received the statements and compared the new interest charges to the month before. It was almost 30% less! With all the bills counted, I was able to put $25 to $50 extra toward my balance. This began to take a nice chunk out of the debt every month. Perhaps not all credit cards accrue interest this way, but if you are paying down debt, you might consider making payments as soon as your statements drop rather than when they are due. Rachel from Dollar Stretcher Tips

The Case Against Credit Card Rewards

Should I Update My Income With My Credit Card Company?

7 Ways To Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards

Max Out Your Credit Card Rewards with This Simple Trick

Insider Tips to Max Out Your Credit Card Rewards

Use This Simple Trick to Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards

9 Guilt-Free Ways to Rip Off Your Credit Card Company 

To make an airline frequent flyer credit card work for you, you need to fly a decent amount on that airline and charge over $25,000 a year minimum. If you cannot meet these two conditions , paying an annual fee is a waste of money.

If you need a few extra frequent flier miles to get a free flight or upgrade you can go shopping instead of taking another vacation. Many airlines allow you to earn frequent flyer miles when you shop at major retailers through their website. Find out if your favorite airline offers this option at www.webflyer.com.

 What's Your Credit Card and Points Strategy These Days? 

We Signed Up for 40 Credit Cards and Made $20,000 Doing It

How To Temporarily Freeze Your Credit Card 

How To Dispute a Charge on Your Credit Card

In the check-out line buying gift cards? Read on to avoid a scam

I Disputed a Fraudulent $500 Credit Card Charge and My Credit Card Company Isn’t Responding. What Should I Do?

What To Do If Someone Uses Your Credit Card Without Authorization

An Item I Bought With a Credit Card Arrived Broken. The Seller Isn’t Replacing It or Refunding Me. How Do I Dispute the Charge With My Credit Card Issuer? 

Beware These 5 Sneaky Credit Card Company Tricks 

Q&A: Too many credit cards? Protect your credit scores while closing accounts 

This simple list could save you if your credit cards are ever stolen

Who Am I Supposed To Call When My Credit Card Info Is Stolen?

Protect Yourself from Credit Card Fraud

Credit Card Fraud: How to Report It and What to Do Next

How to Return Items Through Your Credit Card If the Store Refuses

Why You Should Never Use a Debit Card According to Clark