The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

All articles tagged Credit Card Usage (page 3)

Is it Bad to Cancel a Credit Card?

Is it Bad to Cancel a Credit Card?

You may eventually want to purge one, some, or even all of your credit card accounts. Whether it's out of need or desire, you have every right to back out of the deal. There are potential drawbacks to canceling a credit card, however, so it’s important to learn what they are before ending the relationship. The downsides may inspire you to keep an account active. Of course, there are times when it makes sense to kiss your card goodbye, too. Here’s what you need to know to make... read more »

7 Best Credit Cards for Shopping (March 2024)

7 Best Credit Cards for Shopping (March 2024)

Most people have experienced heading out to the supermarket, a department store, or the mall, to pick up one or two items and leave instead with four bags full of stuff. Sometimes a sale is just too good to pass up. That’s why consumers often look for the best credit cards for shopping. And while 90% of retail shopping in the U.S. still takes place in brick-and-mortar stores, experts forcast that online shopping will account for 20% of all sales by the year 2025. That means having a... read more »

5 Wise Ways to Use Credit When Planning a Wedding (Feb. 2024)

5 Wise Ways to Use Credit When Planning a Wedding (Feb. 2024)

When you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and you’re ready for that long-term commitment, the next step is usually marriage. Celebrating this big moment is always better with your close friends and family, but planning a wedding that can accommodate everyone can quickly become overwhelming and stressful thanks to the pricey fees imposed by venues and service providers. From food and drinks to decorations and music, and, of course, the dress, wedding costs... read more »

Purchases You Shouldn’t Make with a Credit Card

Purchases You Shouldn’t Make with a Credit Card

Credit cards are a smart way to pay for your purchases. They are convenient, safe, and many can pack a large amount of buying power. When you are using your credit card to pay for pretty much anything, you can enjoy some great fraud protections that can help to keep your money safe from crooks and scam artists. Believe it or not, credit cards may help you save money -- if you use them wisely -- since many of them offer attractive perks. With some credit cards, the use of the account... read more »

How Credit Cards Can Impact Your FICO® Scores

How Credit Cards Can Impact Your FICO® Scores

It goes without saying (or writing) that your credit scores are a big deal. They are especially so when you want to apply for a new loan, credit card, or some other service that uses credit scores as part of its underwriting process. And while there are two primarily utilized scoring platforms, FICO and VantageScore, FICO is still the most commonly used credit score by most lenders. What you may not understand is exactly how FICO and other scoring models get to that three-digit... read more »

7 Credit Card Habits to Stay Out of Debt (Feb. 2024)

7 Credit Card Habits to Stay Out of Debt (Feb. 2024)

The average credit card debt per U.S. household hovers over $8,000. Although this number is shocking, it doesn’t mean you should cut up your cards and banish them from your life altogether. In fact, when used wisely, credit cards can actually improve your financial health. From increasing your credit score to offsetting everyday costs and travel expenses, and providing additional protection for big-ticket purchases, credit cards can be valuable tools toward managing your money... read more »

2 Ways to Reduce Your Credit Card Interest Rate

2 Ways to Reduce Your Credit Card Interest Rate

If no one has told you -- and you've yet to discover it for yourself -- credit card debt can be expensive. And, the longer you carry that debt, the more expensive it can get. For example, on a card with a typical 17% annual percentage rate (or APR), a $500 purchase could cost you almost $100 extra in interest fees — and could take nearly two years to pay off — if you only make the minimum payment. That means the great suit that was on sale for $500 could actually cost you $600... read more »

11 Credit Card Perks & How to Use Them

11 Credit Card Perks & How to Use Them

You know that the credit card in your wallet helps you make purchases safely and conveniently, but there are other advantages it could have. In fact, many credit card issuers have created an entire menu filled with various perks for their customers. While not all will be relevant to your lifestyle, odds are at least a few of these little-known benefits will work to your financial advantage. We'll take a look at some of those lesser-known credit card perks and how you can use them to... read more »

12 Best Medical Credit Cards (March 2024)

12 Best Medical Credit Cards (March 2024)

A good plan is the key to success for many things in life, including your personal finances. But, no matter how excellent the plan, some things simply defy planning — like medical emergencies. And, while having a healthy emergency savings can be enough to buffer a few medical bills, a single trip to the emergency room can easily wipe out even the most robust savings account. While many medical offices offer financing through medical credit card accounts, a regular, open-loop credit... read more »

17 Best Gas Credit Cards (March 2024)

17 Best Gas Credit Cards (March 2024)

A typical internal combustion engine operates thanks to a reaction between fuel and oxygen that causes hot gases to expand within the cylinders. Those gases drive the engine's pistons, generating work, which — along with other key components — powers your vehicle. In other words? Without fuel, the engine doesn't work. And without a working engine, your car isn't going anywhere. So, if you have an internal combustion engine in your car, you need gas. And gasoline isn't cheap.... read more »

How Many Credit Cards Should I Have for Good Credit? (March 2024)

How Many Credit Cards Should I Have for Good Credit? (March 2024)

"How many credit cards should I have for good credit?" It's a question I've asked myself when I was younger, and I suspect I'm not alone. If you're like the average American, you might have two credit cards in your wallet. If you're a rewards enthusiast, you may have more than 40 cards. And if you're a credit card collector, you could have over a thousand credit cards (and a custom wallet). But, what's the right number of credit cards? Better yet, consider it another way. Most of us... read more »

11 Best Credit-Building Credit Cards (Feb. 2024)

11 Best Credit-Building Credit Cards (Feb. 2024)

Identifying the best credit-building credit cards can be challenging with so many options available these days. Keep reading for our take on some of the best credit cards that can help you work your way to a healthy credit score. In today's world, having good credit is a bit like having a decent internet connection: while you can technically get by without it, it definitely makes many things a whole lot easier. Of course, building good credit takes a bit more work than phoning up the... read more »

7 Best Vacation Credit Cards (March 2024)

7 Best Vacation Credit Cards (March 2024)

As one workday blends into the next, it can become hard not to feel sometimes as though your life has become a mediocre remake of the movie Groundhog Day — and you're Bill Murray. It's at this point that you know it's time to take a vacation. But whether you make a solo getaway or take the whole crew, vacations are budget busters at the best of times. That's where a little smart credit card use can come in remarkably handy. By using the right credit cards for your vacation... read more »

7 Best Credit Cards for Teachers (March 2024)

7 Best Credit Cards for Teachers (March 2024)

If you're an educator, finding the best credit cards for teachers can help ease the up-front costs that are often necessary for a fully functioning -- and effective -- classroom. We'll take a look at some of these cards in the article below. Between classroom supplies, snacks, and professional development purchases, the average teacher spends as much as $1,000 of their own money each school year. For a new teacher, that could mean as much as 3% of your entire income spent on things... read more »

7 Tips: Paying Rent or Mortgage with Credit Cards (Feb. 2024)

7 Tips: Paying Rent or Mortgage with Credit Cards (Feb. 2024)

Upon entering the real world for the first time, one of the most shocking things to many young people is often the exorbitant cost of housing. Whether you rent or pay a mortgage, you're looking at an average of at least $800 a month — assuming you don't live in an expensive city. With so much of our monthly wages going toward that roof over our heads, it seems a shame to miss out on potential credit card rewards. But paying your rent or mortgage with a credit card isn't always... read more »

Chase Refer-A-Friend Offer: Earn Bonus Points (Feb. 2024)

Chase Refer-A-Friend Offer: Earn Bonus Points (Feb. 2024)

Friends share. Whether it's recipes, gossip, or financial advice, most people often pass on what they've learned to their friends. But the smart friends get rewarded for all that sharing. With Chase's Refer-A-Friend program, you can earn bonus credit card rewards simply for, you guessed it, referring a friend who signs up — and is approved — for an eligible Chase credit card. Of course, the keyword here is "eligible." Only a handful of Chase cards qualify for the Chase... read more »

7 Best Credit Cards for Uber Rewards (Feb. 2024)

7 Best Credit Cards for Uber Rewards (Feb. 2024)

Although ridesharing and carpooling are hardly new concepts, the modern digital platforms that allow users to summon an affordable ride from (and to) just about anywhere have certainly caused a surge in popularity for the old-school concept. Together with its main U.S. competitor, Lyft, the ridesharing platform Uber has started to transform how millions of people around the world travel. In fact, the service has become so ingrained in our lives that Uber even launched its very own... read more »

9 Best Credit Cards for Paying Bills & Utilities (Feb. 2024)

9 Best Credit Cards for Paying Bills & Utilities (Feb. 2024)

Using credit cards to pay bills and utilities may be viewed as a precarious method that could ultimately lead to more debt. But if used wisely -- and paid off each month -- the best credit cards for paying bills and utilities can actually help cardholders save money through rewards. In the last century, we've gone from the introduction of household electricity to lives that often wholly depend on it — a fact that is struck home every time we open a new utility bill. While making... read more »

Is the Chase Freedom a Visa or Mastercard? (March 2024)

Is the Chase Freedom a Visa or Mastercard? (March 2024)

As you rummage through your wallet, trying to decide which credit card you should use to make your next purchase, you may find yourself asking, "Is the Chase Freedom a Visa or Mastercard?" Let's take a quick look at the differences between these two major credit card networks and why it matters. If you're a regular credit card user, chances are relatively good that you've encountered the rare merchant that doesn't accept a particular credit card network. And it always seems that... read more »

8 Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping (March 2024)

8 Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping (March 2024)

In only a few decades, we've traveled from the days when we first heard, "You've got mail!" to an era in which nearly every facet of our lives now involves the internet — particularly our consumer lives. If you can name it, you can likely buy it online without ever needing to interact with another human being (or put on pants). So, let's take a look at which card may be the best credit card — for you — for online shopping. Because avoiding human interaction does come with one... read more »

4 Credit Card Comparison Charts: Rewards, Fees, Rates & Scores (March 2024)

4 Credit Card Comparison Charts: Rewards, Fees, Rates & Scores (March 2024)

A credit card comparison chart can be an extremely valuable took when exploring the numerous cards that are available to consumers these days — hopefully saving both time and money. Once upon a time, credit cards were simple devices, used to conveniently make purchases at your favorite store or restaurant that you paid off when your bill came due. Today, however, credit cards are a much more complicated beast. The huge number of features and functions offered by the modern-day... read more »

Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Feb. 2024 Comparison)

Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Feb. 2024 Comparison)

Although all the major credit card issuers have long since jumped on the rewards card bandwagon, few have embraced it as fully as Chase. Of the two dozens credit card options Chase offers, all but one of them feature some type of purchase rewards (and the one that doesn't, the Chase Slate®, is one of the best balance transfer cards on the market). And it's each card's rewards that are the biggest differentiator between them. If you want cash back rewards, the Chase Freedom... read more »

12 Best Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses (March 2024)

12 Best Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses (March 2024)

For some couples, finding the best credit cards for weddings should rank right up there with finding a great caterer because tying the knot can be expensive. While paging through bridal magazines can give soon-to-be brides a lot of grand ideas, it often fails to prepare them for the real expenses that come with a wedding. From the venue to the food to the flowers, costs often end up with an extra zero on the end that you weren't expecting. For some couples, the costs are easy to keep... read more »

8 Cutest Credit Cards & Designs (Feb. 2024)

8 Cutest Credit Cards & Designs (Feb. 2024)

For many of us, credit cards are utilitarian products — a means to an end — but there's a lot to be said about aesthetic appeal. Have you ever considered what kinds of options are out there for cute credit cards? Between gas, lunch, and that mid-afternoon pick-me-up, chances are good you pull out your trusty credit card several times a day to make a purchase. But despite the fact that many of us look at our credit cards on a daily basis, the sad fact is that most of those little... read more »

Visa vs. Mastercard vs. Discover vs. Amex: Who Wins? (Feb. 2024)

Visa vs. Mastercard vs. Discover vs. Amex: Who Wins? (Feb. 2024)

When consumers are in the market for a new credit card and are comparing and contrasting Visa vs. Mastercard vs. Discover vs. American Express, the major difference may not immediately be obvious. Keep reading to learn more about these key differences and some of the best options available today. In a marketplace glutted with options for nearly any product, consumers are faced with more choices than ever before. But when lacking any substantial information about a company, many... read more »