The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Erica Sandberg
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About The Author

Erica Sandberg is a consumer finance expert and journalist whose articles and insights are featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, MarketWatch, Forbes, and MSN Money.

An experienced media host, she's led many financial programs, including her podcast, "Adventures With Money." She's appeared on Fox, CNN, "EconTalk" and "The Dr. Drew Podcast," and has been the resident money and credit authority for KRON-4 News in San Francisco for more than 10 years.

She's also the author of "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families" and recipient of the 2024 Financial Literacy and Education in Communities (FLEC) Award for National Excellence.

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Latest Posts

56 posts written/edited to date
What is Bad Credit? How It Impacts Credit Card Approval and Interest Rates 

How Bad Credit Impacts Credit Card Approval and Interest Rates

If you worry about having bad credit, you’re not alone. I have counseled many... read more »

Erica Sandberg 9/23/2024
What is an Unsecured Card? A Guide to Traditional Credit Cards and Their Rates, Terms, and Limits

What is an Unsecured Card? A Guide to Traditional Credit Cards

Chances are that, like me, you have an unsecured credit card or two in your wallet... read more »

Erica Sandberg 9/19/2024
What is an Introductory APR on a Credit Card? 

What is an Introductory APR on a Credit Card?

Want to borrow money for purchases and then revolve balances without any finance... read more »

Erica Sandberg 8/5/2024
What is a Charge-Off? When Lenders Deem Debt Uncollectable, Borrowers Are Still on the Hook

What is a Charge-Off? When Debt is Deemed Uncollectable

When businesses or lenders consider a debt uncollectible, usually due to missed or... read more »

Erica Sandberg 6/17/2024
What is a Statement Credit?

How Card Statement Credits Work

A statement credit is money applied to your credit card account that can lower your... read more »

Erica Sandberg 5/3/2024
7 Financial Tasks to Automate Today

7 Financial Tasks to Automate Now

If you’re like most people, life is busy with everything from work to family to... read more »

Erica Sandberg 3/5/2024
Credit Cards vs. BNPL Services: What to Know in 2024

Credit Cards vs. BNPL Services

Payment options for consumer goods and services abound. Credit cards are most... read more »

Erica Sandberg 2/12/2024
25 Shocking Credit Card Processing Statistics (2024)

25 Credit Card Processing Statistics

When you use your credit card to pay for purchases online or in a store, or to... read more »

Erica Sandberg 11/27/2023
21 Startling Credit Card Data Breach Statistics (2024)

21 Startling Credit Card Data Breach Statistics

Rolex watches, diamonds, precious art? In aggregate, such items are not nearly as... read more »

Erica Sandberg 10/10/2023
14 Things College Students Must Know Before Opening Their First Credit Card

14 Things Students Must Know About Credit Cards

On your way to college and haven’t opened a credit card yet? This is the perfect... read more »

Erica Sandberg 8/24/2023
17 Money-Saving & Credit-Building Credit Card Hacks

17 Money-Saving & Credit-Building Hacks

So you want to get the most out of your credit card? Great! You can do several... read more »

Erica Sandberg 8/10/2023
6 Ways AI is Changing the Credit Card Industry

6 Ways AI is Changing the Credit Card Industry

It seems like everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI) and how this... read more »

Erica Sandberg 7/10/2023
Average Credit Card Debt by State in 2024

The Average Credit Card Debt in Each State

Carrying over credit card debt from one month to the next is a common practice... read more »

Erica Sandberg 6/27/2023
8 Times Not to Use Your Credit Card

8 Times Not to Use Your Credit Card

You opened a credit card so you could use it, not for it to gather dust. You can... read more »

Erica Sandberg 4/13/2023
What Is Credit Card Refinancing? 6 Ways to Lower Rates (Oct. 2024)

What Is Credit Card Refinancing?

Carrying over credit card obligations from one month to the next can be an... read more »

Erica Sandberg 3/16/2023
6 Ways to Pay Student Loans With a Credit Card (Oct. 2024)

6 Ways to Pay Student Loans With a Credit Card

If you have significant student loan debt, you’re in good company. According to... read more »

Erica Sandberg 2/7/2023
15 Credit Card Tips & Tricks from Experts (2024)

15 Credit Card Tips & Tricks

Using a credit card advantageously is within everybody’s capability. You just need... read more »

Erica Sandberg 1/10/2023
Credit Cards After Death: Here’s What Happens

Credit Cards After Death: What Happens?

There are many myths surrounding credit card debt, and a fair number concern what... read more »

Erica Sandberg 12/14/2022
5 Credit Card Debt Forgiveness Options

5 Credit Card Debt Forgiveness Options

There is nothing quite like being forgiven. Maybe you hurt a friend, and they told... read more »

Erica Sandberg 11/3/2022
20 Things You Didn’t Know Your Credit Card Could Do

20 Things You Didn't Know About Your Card

The most basic function of a credit card is that it allows you to purchase things... read more »

Erica Sandberg 10/3/2022