Choosing Your Credit Card
As you probably already know, there are many credit cards out there. The one you choose however, should reflect your lifestyle and your ideal spending amounts. If you are looking for the best possible deal and the best company for your credit card, you’ll obviously need to look around at what you have to choose from and what works best for you.
The first thing you’ll need to decide when choosing your credit card, is why you need one in the first place. Some people choose to get a credit card for cash flow purposes. With a credit card, you can make purchases and buy things, leaving your paycheck or other source of income in your bank account to draw interest. This way, your money will continue to grow while you continue to buy the things you need. Then at the end of the month, simply pay your bill.
Others will choose to get a credit card and use it for instant cash purposes. This way, they can use their credit card at an ATM and get instant cash, which is great for travel or going on a long and extended vacation. If this is why you want a credit card, you should look for one that has the lowest rate possible for instant cash transactions.
With a credit card, you’ll also need to think about the payments. You’ll need to decide if you want to pay the balance in full each month, or only the required amount. When you select your credit card, you should look at the introductory rates, balance transfer rates, and other offers that may apply to new credit cards and new holders. Some will offer you truly amazing deals, especially if you have good credit.
Another important area to look at when choosing your credit card is the incentives. There are several cards out there that will give you incentives, such as reward points and even cash back with purchases that you can use towards paying back what you owe. There are several incentives out there with credit cards, all you have to do is look around and compare.
The key area you’ll need to look at and compare is the APR (Annual Percentage Rate). The APR is what you will pay on what you purchase when the incentive period runs out. APR rates will vary among credit cards, so it is always in your best interest to compare and shop around. The lower APR rate you get, the better off you’ll be.
Another concern with choosing your credit card is the minimum payment amount. Most minimum payment balances will start around 3%, although some can be lower while others tend to be quite a bit higher. The interest free period is a concern as well, as you will obviously want to choose the longest period that you can keep the payments down.
When you make that final decision and choose your credit card, you should always make sure that you know exactly what you are getting. Credit cards are great to have, although they can lead to a downfall if you don’t choose them carefully. If you put some time and research into choosing your credit card, you’ll find the best one for you. As long as you take care of your credit card and pay the bill on time, you’ll help raise your credit and eventually be able to purchase even bigger things – such as a car or even a house.
Always Pay By Credit Card
A car rental is a major part of vacation planning. It is an essential part of many business and vacation trips. If you never had to rent a car before, here is all you need to know.
In order to rent a car, you must have a valid driver’s license. This is to protect the rental car company against liability. The photo identification helps establish the company is renting the car to the correct person and that person will be liable for any damage, rather than the car company.
In addition, you must have a valid credit card. Again, this protects the credit card company, who will simply bill your credit card if you fail to return the car when promised or if you damaged it in some way. If the company does not have a credit card number on file for you, they have little chance of getting their money.
In many cases, car rental companies will refuse to loan their vehicles to anyone under the age of 25 years old. This is because research by insurance companies shows drivers under 25 cause the most accidents. However, if you have a decent driving record and present yourself as a responsible person, it is possible to get a car rental. For example, my sister was able to get a rental car when she had a job interview out of state.
All car rental companies insist on insurance coverage. Quite often the rental company’s rates may be higher than your regular insurance provider. This is because the company loans millions of cars to people whom they do not know. That is taking a huge risk. You may be able to get your rental car covered under your regular insurance, but you must show proof of insurance when you pick up the car.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can get off scot-free if you damage a rental car covered only by the rental car company’s basic insurance. The company keeps careful records of its transactions. If you damage one of their cars, sooner or later, you will be billed for the damage – and possibly even legal fees if you tried to deny the claim. It’s not worth it: own up to any damage you may have caused.
Those are the basics every first-time car renter needs to know. You can book your rental car on line. This is a very convenient method because you can compare the rates of several companies within minutes in the comfort of your own home. You will want to compare rates, extra amenities, reservation requirements and the location of the rental facility. Some rental companies offer emergency road service and shuttle service.
Renting a car is a fairly easy process as long as you are prepared. Just be sure you keep careful records and drive safely.
