Credit Card Advice for College Students

When looking for a card for a student especially for one attending college it is important to make sure to get a credit card instead of a debit card. This is due to a credit card allowing you to create a credit history which will help you in the future. When faced with banks for loans or financing the first thing they require is credit history and a good one at that. Which is why it is important for everyone to start on their credit history as soon as possible. As a good credit history will help you in all situations from bank loans to jobs interviews.

Citi Forward Card- the Citi Forward Card is a great card for college students everywhere as it has a great rewards system. Which gives you 5 points for every $1 you spend for things like movie theatres, video rental services, restaurants and book stores. And 1 point for $1 for all your other purchases these points that you have accumulated can then be redeemed for things such as movie tickets, gift vouchers, merchandise and travel holidays. You will also be welcomed with a 0% APR rate for the first 7 months of receiving the card along with giving you $75 statement credit if you spend at least $150 in the first 3 months of owning the Citi Forward Card. Other great things about the Citi Forward Card include the choice to get an additional 1000 points for not receiving paper statements and being able to shrink your interest rate to a minimal 2% in a mere 2 years.

Blue Sky Card from American Express- the Blue Sky Card from American Express is another great option or all college students looking for a good way to build their credit history. As there is no annual fee for the Blue Sky Card from American Express and users are awarded 1 point per $1 spent. Which makes the Blue Sky Card from American Express card 33% better at issuing points for purchases than other reward cards. But what makes the Blue Sky Card from American Express really great is all of its great discounts to students who see themselves going from one place to another. As it can be a very costly business going from one place to another. But with the Blue Sky Card from American Express card you know you are getting an amazing 7500 points to redeem for a $100 statement. As well as a great deal of discounts on flights, car rentals and hotels making it perfect for the student you needs or wants to travel a lot.

Orchard Bank Visa Card- the Orchard Bank Visa Card is perfect for any student who needs to build a credit history and needs there his/her first credit card. As the Orchard Bank Visa Card is issued by the HSBC it is a reliable card for all locations both national and international. The Orchard Bank Visa Card also reports to all 3 of the major credit bureaus in the United States so you know you are actively building a credit history. And best of all the Orchard Bank Visa Card has some of the best interest rates especially when compared to many sub-prime credit cards with their ludicrous interest rates in comparison.

Best Debit Cards of 2012

Debt cards are a great way to handle money if you unexpected interest rates bills from your credit card company. Which is why many people are opting for the much more comfortable option of prepaid debt cards. Which offer a great level of ease, convince and safety for the users. As the prepaid credit cards give you all of the financial ease and freedom with next to none of the drawbacks. But it can be hard to see which debit card is right for you so here is the list of the top debit cards of 2012. Hopefully this will help you find the perfect debit card solution for you whether it’s your first card or not.

Capital One Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard- the Capital One Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard has one of the cheapest monthly service rates in the premium cards segment. While also retain all of the high quality services and features that you would expect from a debit card of this level. With its minor fee of roughly $5 a month ($4.95 to be exact) the Capital One Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard provides a great deal of rewards to its users. Things such as ATM access, online tools, no over limit fees, FDIC insurance and most importantly no liability. Which make the Capital One Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard high in the recommendation list of prepaid debit cards.

AccountNow- With its attractive signing up offer which will intern save you hundreds of dollars on your yearly check cashing fees (as there is no fee for direct deposits). It’s hard to not consider the AccountNow prepaid debit card. Other benefits of an AccountNow debit card include no late fees and no minimum deposits. All at the monthly fee of $7.50 which will also include FDIC insurance as well as online tools to help you manage your finances better.

Mango MasterCard- the Mango MasterCard should be seriously considered by all who plan to spend over $500 a month via a prepaid debit cards. As one of the most attractive offers of the Mango MasterCard is of no monthly fees if you spend (or load) a minimum of $500 a month using the Mango MasterCard. Other attractions include no bank account being necessary for applying, online tools to manage finances, and funds are insured up to$250k. The Mango MasterCard should also be considered by all who have bad or no credit history as there are no credit checks for the Mango MasterCard.

NetSpend Prepaid Debit Card- the NetSpend Prepaid Debit Card is an A+ credited prepaid card. And with their 0 credit checks, no debts, no late fees, no minimum balance and no bounced checks. All at the lowly price of $5.00 a month is clear to see why the NetSpend Prepaid Debit Card is highly recommended as you’re next prepaid debit card solution. No to mention the great service from NetSpend which allows you to know whenever by SMS how much credit you have so you never overspend. A complete solution for all first time debit card holders and veterans.

Best Credit Cards for 2012

Credit cards are a must in today’s world with their range of great rewards in the form of cash rebates (cash) its literally is getting money back every time you spend. Which is why it becomes very hard to pick the right credit card for you. As credit card deals are always changing from one day to another so to help you out here is a list of the best credit cards of 2012. All with no annual fee and some great rewards and bonuses to make picking your next credit card that much easier.

Chase Freedom Visa- the Chase Freedom Visa is one of the best cash back cards available today. Giving you generous 5% cash back on categories that quarterly rotate each year from thing such as gas, travel and department stores. Which is a great way to save yourself quite a bit of money if you know what you’re going to be spending on in advance. And you will also be getting 1% back on everything else you will be spending on and best of all you even get 10% cash back on everything you buy online using the Chase Freedom Visa. And for a limited time only you get $200 cash back bonus for signing up for the Chase Freedom Visa.

American Express Blue Cash Everyday- the American Express Blue Cash Every day is a great card for cash back. With an outstanding 3% cash back on all supermarket purchases and 2% cash back on all gas and department stores purchases. Not to mention the 1% cash back on all purchases making the American Express Blue Cash Everyday quite a hard to beat (in rewards) credit card. The American Express Blue Cash Everyday credit card also gives you a 0% APR for you purchases made in the first 12 months. And $100 signing bonus when you spend $1000 with your American Express Blue Cash Every day in the first 3 months.

Citi Diamond Preferred Card- The Citi Diamond Preferred Card is much like the Citi Platinum Select card as you pay a minimal 3% of your amount transferred on fees ($5 is minimum). But the Citi Diamond Preferred Card also comes with a 0% APR for the first 18 months on both balance transfers and purchases made. And there are a great amount of perks too such as price protection, extended warranties and private pass. But the Citi Diamond Preferred Card doesn’t not come with any rewards which is a let-down for some.

Discover Card- Known one of the highest cash back rates of any credit card the Discover Card gives outstanding 5% cash back on its quarterly rotating categories. Such as gas, movies, restaurants and groceries as well as 1% cash back on all purchases made with the Discover Card (once your annual purchases exceed $3000). There is also a great 0% APR offer for all purchases and balances in the first 15 months. As well as a 0.25% rebate for your first year which can be doubled if opted for a gift certificate instead of cash.

Best credit cards for bad credit

If you like many others have bad credit it can be hard to get a second chance. As none of the credit card companies think about issuing you a credit card due to your bad credit history. But luckily help is at hand as here is the list of the top 3 best credit cards for people with bad credit. With these credit cards no matter what state your credit is like you are guaranteed a credit card. And with 3 credit cards to pick from you can easily choose the one that suits you best.

1. Orchard Bank credit card- The Orchard bank is part of the megabank HSBC and offers its customers three unsecured credit cards and a secured credit card for those customers who need to rebuild their credit history and credit score. The Orchard Bank credit card does come with an annual fee which ranges from $39 to $59 depending on the level of your credit history and current credit score. The APR on the Orchard Bank credit card ranges from the lows of 14.9% to the highs of 19.9% which is also based on your most current credit score and credit history. So again if your credit history is bad but not the worst you might end up getting a good deal with the APR and annual fees. Although that is not to say that the 19.9% of the Orchard Bank is bad as other unsecured credit cards such as the Applied Bank Unsecured Visa Gold charge customers 29.99% APR to all their customers.

2. Capital One Cash Reward for Newcomers- the Capital One Cash Reward for newcomers is a credit card aimed at those people who are new to the U.S. and thus are looking to build their credit history for the first time. And the place to start is the Capital One Cash Reward for newcomer’s credit card as it available for everyone and without any fuss too. The APR is not too bad seeing that you have no credit history or really bad credit history at 24.9% but at least there are no annual fees. There is also 2% cash back on all travel purchases and 1% cash back on all purchases and no foreign transaction fees too. You can also get cash back at any time as an account credit to check and if you want automatic redemption can be set up. Best of all to help rebuild your credit the Capital One Cash Reward for newcomers reports to all three major credit bureaus.

3. Navy Federal `n Rewards Secured Card- If you’re in any way connected to the military then the Navy Federal `n Rewards Secured Card is the best option for you. AS it allow people with poor credit an APR as low as 8.99% as well as no annual fees. Cardholders also receive a point for every dollar they spend which they can later redeem. And best of all to rebuild your credit history the Navy Federal `n Rewards Secured Card reports to all three main credit bureaus. And allows cardholders to switch to an unsecured credit card after just 12 months it truly is the best option but it’s also a limited option as it’s only for those with a military background.

Best credit cards for no credit history

Best credit cards for no credit history - If you are one of many people who have next no credit or have no real credit history then chances are you will be turned down by many of the leading companies once you apply for a credit card. This is a very difficult situation to be in as getting a good credit history or any credit history requires you to first get a credit card.

So to help you out here are the top 3 best credit cards for people with no or next no credit history. Hopefully with the help of this article you can apply for the specially targeted credit cards for those with no or next to no credit history. And although the choices you will have will be limited you can stay assured that they are the best possible choices for someone with limited credit history.

However keep in mind that some credit card companies place a lot more attention to your income then your credit score. So if you have a good income you may still have a chance to get the credit card you wanted even if your credit history is weak. If you do get turned down from the credit card companies then you can try the companies below and more or less be guaranteed a cred card.

1. Capital One Cash Back Card- The Capital One cash back card called the No Hassle Cash Rewards card is targeted at those with an average to low credit and encourages people with limited credit history to get involved. It is a great way to start your credit history and is a great way to manage your finances without too much hassle. The only real catch with the Capital One cash back card is that it comes with an annual fee and a high APR rate when compared with the other cards of the same nature. But it’s still is a great card especially when considering that it is very open to people with no credit history.

2. The Orchard Bank Classic MasterCard- The Orchard Bank Classic Master card is the most recommended on our list especially if you have next to none or no credit history. As the Orchard Bank is quite different from other credit card issuers as it supplies it customers with either a secured or unsecured Orchard Bank credit card. But the reason that sets the Orchard Bank Classic MasterCard apart from all its rivals is that they have the most reasonable fees and is rated one of the best amongst credit card users everywhere. Furthermore they report to all three credit bureaus which are great for people trying to create credit history.

3. First Progress Secured Credit Card- The First Progress Secured credit card is not as favoured in our opinions as the Orchard Bank Classic MasterCard but it is still the best otherwise. As it has great APR rates and very reasonable fees. Making it one of the only cards we could stand behind with our full recommendation. If all else fails or you don’t like the other two credit cards the First Progress Secured credit card is a great choice.

Best credit cards for students

Best credit cards for students - When you’re a student it can be very difficult to pick the right credit card for yourself. As you have a lot of boundaries to cross first of all many students don’t have much or any credit history which makes it quite a task to get any credit card company to take you seriously. Next your income is either very low or you are dependent on your parents which is another negative point for the credit card companies. So what can you do if you are a student and want a credit card? Well here is a list of the top 3 credit cards for students that are perfect for any student who needs a credit card but can’t get one.

1. Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card- The Citi divided platinum select card is a great option for students as they are guaranteed a Citi Divided Platinum select card even with their poor credit score and lack of history. The Citi Divided Platinum select card also has the benefit of not having any annual fee and introductory 0% rate on purchases made in the first 7 months and 5% cash back on all purchases with the Citi Divided Platinum select card. And 2% cash back on selected categories such as fraud and security protections. The Citi Divided Platinum select card also allows users to earn rebates as dividend dollars which are then payable in $50 increments upon the customer’s request. The only issue with the Citi Divided Platinum select card is that it has a limited yearly rebate limit of just $300 per year.

2. Discover Student Card- The Discover student card features a whole host of attractive features such as no annual fee and a 0% introductory rate on purchases made on the Discover student card for the first 6 months. 5% cash back on a whole range of goods and unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases after having spent $3000 for the year. And 5% to 20% cash back when shopping online at the retailers at shop discover. Best of all there are no limit or expires on the rebates that you can earn with the Discover student card. The only drawback is that our only get 1% cash back after having spent at least $3000 with the Discover student card.

3. Capital One Journey Student Rewards Card- The Capital One Journey Student Rewards card has no annual fee and 1% cash back on all purchases. Furthermore a 25% bonus on the cash you earn each month. Whilst also having the ability to redeem your cash rewards in the form of a gift card, check etc. and also being able to collect these rewards at any time. Best of all is the $0 fraud liability on your card so if it’s lost or stolen and used you don’t pay a penny. The only thing not so great about the Capital One Journey Student Rewards card is that it has no introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers.

Best reward credit cards

Best reward credit cards - When looking to buy a credit card it can be difficult to find the right one for you. As all credit cards now days seem to reward users in different ways and in various situations. This is why we have a top 5 list of the best rewards credit cards that you can get. This list will hopefully help you get the best out of your credit card and help you decide which credit card has the best rewards for you.

1. Costco American Express TrueEarnings Card- Costco members are known for their financial smarts. For they shop at Costco to get more value for their money and that’s why the Costco American Express TrueEarnings Card makes our list. As the Costco American Express TrueEarnings Card offers money back at almost every purchase. Which is why it is highly recommended and is as high in our list as it quite possibly the ultimate credit card for people who want to get the most out of there credit card. Best of all Costco Members especially benefit from this credit card as there is no annual fee for Costco members and you get 1% cash back on all your Costco purchases. And it doubles as an American Express card and your Costco membership card.

2. Discover More Card- Although not as popular in shops as the other major credit cards are. There is no doubt that the Discover and more to the point Discover More Card offers a great cash back rate. 5% on all categories this does change every month or for some every few months to just 1% which is still a hefty amount for cash back. Not only does the Discover More card offer great cash back rates but there are also great unique promotions and rewards for Discover More card holders to redeem. And you don’t have to wait the end of the year to redeem these rewards as you can redeem them for cash or credit at $50 or gift cards, coupons etc. The Discover More card also offers a 0% APR for balance transfers which is great for people who are carrying debt as you can save thousands in interest charges.

3. American Express Blue Cash- Much like the Discover More card the American Express Blue card credit card offers up to a maximum of 5% cash back on specific categories of purchases. But the categories do not change unlike in other credit cards so you stay assured that you will always save 5% on gas, drug stores and grocery shops. And with a generous helping of 1.25% cash back on all other purchase made by the American Express Blue Cash credit card you know you are getting one of the best cash back rates available. The only catch and reason that the American Express Blue Cash card is third on our list is that it requires you to have spent at least $6500 on your Blue cash card in the year before you get the spectacular cash back rates. Until then you get 1% of everyday purchases and 0.5% for everything else.

Credit cards for bad credit scores

Credit cards for bad credit scoresWhen you’re in the market for a credit card in can be hard to find one. Especially if you have a bad credit score many major companies like MBNA will not even think for a second about issuing you a credit card. But fortunately for you help is at hand as here is the list of the top 3 best cards for people with bad credit.

1. Citi Secured MasterCard- Whilst most secured cards require you to make a deposit to the issuers which they later deposit in a no-interest savings account. The Citi Secured MasterCard invests your deposit in CDs making it a great way to start saving also the annual fee for Citi Secured MasterCard is very low at $29 plus there are no monthly fees for maintenance. What’s the catch? Well there is an 18.24% APR rate with the Citi Secured MasterCard which makes it a bad choice as your daily credit card. But if you’re planning on rebuilding your credit score you do get money to invest in CD which helps you a lot with rebuilding your score and getting something back.

2. Mango Prepaid MasterCard- Although many financial experts and gurus are against prepaid cards because of their ludicrously high fees. But the Mango Prepaid MasterCard is the exception to that rule. As the Mango Prepaid MasterCard have some of the lowest fees in market. And the best thing about the Mango Prepaid MasterCard is that it’s prepaid so it’s just your money being used so you don’t ever pay interest on the card thus making it a great stress free option. The only downside for the Mango Prepaid MasterCard being is that it does not report to the credit Bureaus so it won’t be able to help you rebuild your credit score.

3. Open Sky Secured Visa Card- The Open Sky Secured Visa Card is a great card for people who have a bad credit score as the Open Sky Secured Visa Card has a low interest rate and only requires a deposit of $200 to get credit to up to $3000. The APR on the Open Sky Secured Visa Card is 9.75% which although not fantastic is pretty good for people with a bad credit score especially when compared to other Visa Cards. And best of the entire Open Sky Secured Visa card will accept anyone for their Visa card as there is no credit check. And if you’re trying to rebuild your credit score back up the Open Sky Secured Visa Card is perfect for you as it reports to all three major credit card bureaus. The only drawback with the Open Sky Secured Visa card is the annual fee of $50 which is the only fee you will need to pay for the card. The only other fee is of $25 to increase your credit limit after a year which can be avoided if planned ahead.

Hopefully these credit cards will be able to help you deal with your bad credit score as they all provide you with the same benefits of a credit card but with next to none of the major setbacks of owning a credit card.

Credit Card vs Debit Card

Credit Card vs Debit Card – People should have to know about them, compare and contrast them, so that they have to know which one is suitable for them. Most of the people among us have the ability to use a debit card but due to lack of knowledge, or they are in a great habit of writing checks, paying interests, in that cases they use credit cards. So here is a complete discussion on credit card vs debit card.

Debit cards are directly linked to our accounts, through which we can buy things, or we can withdraw cash as needed and the amount is directly taken out through our bank accounts.

There are two types of debit cards,

  • The 1st one is Electron debit card, in which before each and every transaction your account balance is checked, and in case when the amount in your account is finished off, you won’t get more, and possibly you won’t even buy a thing.
  • But in the other type of debit card; Visa Debit Card, your account would not necessarily be checked, you even get more than your bank account have.

Debit cards can also be used over phone and internet to make payments. In such a condition you will have to make available definite fine points that are in print on your card.

While comparing credit card vs debit card it can be said that the credit card is a type of borrowing. Firms which are lending capital to clients must be accredited by the Office of Fair Trading, under The Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Act acquires definite credit and sign up agreements to be set out in a meticulous approach and to enclose appropriate data for the human being borrowing.

Credit cards permit you to ‘purchase commodities at this time and compensate in a while’ this term is called as ‘purchasing on credit’. They are not associated to your depository account. Like wise in the case of debit cards, they are capable to be used to pay money for wares in stores over the telephone and internet, with the identical fine points being mandatory. You can also acquire a ‘cash advance’ by collecting money at bank cash machinery.

Your bank may recommend you a credit card, or you can submit an application for one to any organization presenting one. The credit card contributor will in general run checks to see if you have had troubles repaying liabilities ahead of contributing you one, is termed as ‘credit check’.

There occurs a great risk in using a credit card. So that’s why think with awareness previous to using a credit card. If you do not pay back your invoice in full by the date shown you are charged interest on the complete amount of the invoice for the same month. The tariffs of interest which are indicated by the APR (annual percentage rate) are also could be very sky-scraping certainly. If you obtain cash out with a credit card you are charged every day interest from the split second you take out the cash until the credit card invoice is compensated in full. This is a pricey line of attack of borrowing money. Most of the credit cards also charge you a once a year payment cleanly for having the card.

If you cannot come up with the money for to repay your credit card bill you could rapidly collapse into debt.

So in the end of the credit card vs debit card discussion we are forced to say that debit card is not just a card, but a direct and safe way to bank account or in other words to your money.

Credit Card with Bad Credit

Credit Card with Bad Credit - Credit Card is a plastic card issued by the Credit Card companies. Its awareness is very common these days. There are rarely people available who are not aware of its convenience and facilities. Owning a Credit Card is not a difficult thing, commonly everyone has one of it. People even carry more than one Credit Card of different issuers. The offers on different cards also differ.  Credit Cards help you in all situations, whether you have Fair Credit or Bad Credit. You can avail the offers of Credit Cards according to your needs and requirement.

If you have a Bad Credit, you can still own a Credit Card of your own choice and need. The Credit Card with Bad Credit is available to help you in the situation of Bad Credit.

Bad Credit can be a result of several circumstances. It may occur due to job losses, foreclosures and may be Credit Card defaults. These things can have a great impact on your life, in the present as well as on your future. Credit Card with Bad Credit helps you recover your Credit score and raise the points in it.

The Credit report illustrates all about your Credit Card activities. It shows all your payments, whether they are on time or not. It also shows how much interest you have to pay, and also the way that you spend your money. Once you are involved in Bad Credit, you start getting calls from different Credit Card issuers, which offer you Credit Cards with Bad Credit. Be aware! It can be a bad trap for you, make your choice wisely by examining all the Credit cards and their rates. Or else, you get involved in more liabilities and debts.

Credit Card with Bad Credit helps you improve your Credit Score. If you use it wisely and maintain its payments properly, then you can definitely avail the best opportunities and convenience of Credit Cards. By using Credit Card with bad Credit you spend the cash of your account just like other Credit Cards, just the use of that money differs. These cards are specifically designed for people who have less than perfect credit or you can say who have poor credit.

Such Credit Card with Bad Credit is usually the same as Credit Cards just the interest rate is low. The way you use your Credit Cards is completely up to your choice, if you use it efficiently you get benefit of it and if you don’t use it wisely you destroy your life! Using efficiently can increase your Credit Score and on the other hand using it inefficiently will increase the burden of debts on you.

 There may be many Credit Card companies which will offer Credit Card with Bad Credit. You have to provide the company with a guarantor, for security reasons. Selecting the most appropriate one for you is your own choice and decision. By using such cards, you can qualify for the better rates and terms in the future. By continuously, paying all your Credit Card payments, helps you raise your Credit worthiness.