Zero Balance

It would have been unthinkable just a decade ago, but now it is commonplace in the UK to hear of zero per cent credit cards. Brought about by fierce competition, both from UK and American lenders, and also by historically low interest rates, zero per cent credit cards have become extremely popular. Today, it is almost impossible to find a lender that does not offer some form of zero percent credit card. They simply have to if they want to compete in the business as it is run today. However, before you start signing up for a zero per cent credit card, you should be aware that there are different types of zero per cent card and you will need to be aware of what it is you want to use the card for before you decide which type is right for you.

The first thing to consider is a cash advance. These are typically charged at higher than normal interest rates and it is still extremely unusual to find a credit card that will give you a cash advance at zero per cent. So if you are looking for zero per cent cash, then it is unlikely that a credit card is going to give it to you.

Zero per cent purchases however, is something you might have a better chance of getting. There are now a number of cards on the market place that offer customers zero percent on new purchases. So if you would like to for example buy something large and expensive, and cannot get a good financing deal to fund the purchase, then perhaps buying it on a zero per cent on purchases credit card would be a good way to go. You will be charged no interest at all, and will have the entire interest free period, usually of six to nine months to pay back the amount without incurring any interest charges.

Probably the most common form of zero per cent for a credit purchase is on balance transfers. So if you find yourself paying a lot of interest on existing credit card balances, then you could look into transferring this balance onto a new credit card that offers you zero percent to do so. This has the potential of saving you hundreds of pounds in interest payments.

Finally, if you are one of those customers that are in the habit of paying off your credit card bill in full every month, then you will not need a zero per cent card at all. This is because you already pay no interest. In this case you would be better of looking for a card that offers some cash back or other form of reward rather than a zero per cent interest.

Now is probably the best time to take a closer look at an interest free credit card. More and more credit card companies and banks are now starting to draw back from offering such large introductory 0 per cent deals. More credit card companies are increasingly coming under pressure to reduce the amount of 0% credit card they offer due to the fact they do not make any profit from them.

People used to think that they had enough on their benefits with their credit cards. They thought that the rewards they get and the low interest they have is already enough to last a lifetime.

However, there are instances when they get to have the chance of seeing promotions like 0% APR. Now, this is really something. But the question is, is it true? Is there a great probability that credit card companies can actually offer a 0% APR?

For most financial experts, they contend that it is, indeed, possible. In fact, credit card companies would definitely go for this kind of scheme just to get the consumers on their hook.

That sounds too good to be true, indeed. But the question is how come they can offer something so good just like that?

Normally, 0% annual percentage rate or APR lasts only for 6 months. The countdown starts from the day the credit card is claimed.

In most instances, 0% APR are attractive to people who would want to have a balance transfer. This is because they would want to consolidate all of their debts into one payment only. And because they have a huge pile of debt, they would rather go to a credit company that can offer them lower interest rates.

With things like 0% APR credit card, who can resist them?

Moreover, with the 6-month timeframe, people will get to have the chance of paying their standing debts for a whole six month-period only. That would be a lot of savings.

But then again, 0% APR credit cards are not at all beneficial to everybody. As they say, there is always an exception to the rule. This refers to those who do not accumulate interest charges simply because they have outstanding balance. So, they wouldnt feel the necessity of getting a 0% APR credit card.

The best credit cards for these types of people are those that offer rewards and cash backs instead of lower rates.

All of these boil down to one point, that people must be aware on how these wonderful offers can provide them the benefit that they want.

Indeed, there are lots of rewards and 0% APR credit card out there. But if it will not work for those who do not really them because of the mentioned situations, then its best not to have them at all. Besides, the best 0% reward is not to have a credit card at all.

On most days I love my work as a financial advisor to my wide variety of clients. I love helping people take a serious look at their financial situation and helping them make wise financial decisions. I get frustrated, however, when my clients “put the buggy before the horse” so to speak and start worrying about things like credit problems before they have even applied for credit. I have had countless conversations about the importance of filling out a credit card application as the first step toward building credit.

It is shocking how many people forget about the credit card application as a necessary means to the end of actually having a credit card and being able to build up their credit card situation. So quite frequently I have to sit down with a client and work through the process of filling out a credit card application before we can move any further in our discussion about the importance of building up good credit for the rest of their lives.

The process of applying for credit can be rather overwhelming if you have no idea what kind of credit to apply for or what kind of credit card deals to avoid. If you’re anything like the average citizen, you receive countless credit card applications in the mail each week. How can you determine what really is a good deal and what is beneficial for your future? I’d encourage everyone to take their pile of credit card applications and make a visit to a financial advisor as soon as possible. Allow a professional to assist you in the decision making process.

The next step is just to fill out the credit card applications that you have chosen to go with and see which ones you are approved for. You might have a little trouble getting approved for your first credit card, but you’ll never know unless you actually fill out the credit card application to be approved. This is one of the simpliest yet most overlooked steps in the process of becoming people for whom getting credit isn’t an issue. So start at the beginning and do what it takes to get good credit.

Thinking about conquering your mountain of debt but too scared even to give your debt much thought? Read this real-world scenario of how one person erased 10,000 of credit card debt within a few years.

Ever wonder how some people deep in credit card debt manage to come out on top financially? This is the hypothetical but realistic story of Emily, one person who dug herself out of 10,000 in credit card debt in just a few years.

Never a big spender, Emily was shocked when she noticed that her two credit cards had a combined balance of 10,000. What happened?

* Emily took a lower-paying job when the economy went bust at the turn of the millennium.

* Hoping her lower income would be temporary, Emily didn’t sell her house to get one with a lower mortgage. She didn’t sell her expensive car to buy a cheaper one, since she would get much less than she had paid for it. In reality, the thought of driving a less-nice car was painful

* Emily paid only the minimum monthly credit card payment most months. She was paying interest, and interest on interest, buying the privilege of having the credit card company hold onto her debt another month.

* When one of Emily’s credit card balances got within a few hundred pounds of the credit limit, her interest rate on the card skyrocketed from 17 to 27% .

Loans: Emilys Salvation?
Emily considered taking out a loan to pay off her credit card debt. She owned a condominium whose property values had increased 40% since she bought it, so she could easily get a good low-interest second mortgage.

But a loan scared Emily: it would mean admitting her debt would not go away soon. Besides, Emily wanted to get rid of her debt, not trade (her unsecured debt for secured debt). Plus, she knew that if she ever couldn’t pay the second mortgage, she would lose her house, while failing to pay credit card bills would just mean a ruined credit rating.

For about a year, Emily argued with herself over whether to take out a loan to pay off her credit card. Then catastrophe hit: her beautiful car was totaled in an accident. While shopping for a new car with friends, Emily finally had to admit to herself that buying another car like the one she had had would be financial suicide.

Finding an Answer
Emily cried and cried as soon as she got home from the car dealership that day. It wasn’t just that she would have to admit that she wasn’t someone who could afford the car she had been driving. When Emily’s parents were her age, they had already bought a five-bedroom house; Emily’s one-bedroom condominium was already a stretch. If she ever got married to a man with the same financial picture as she had, she wasn’t sure they’d be able to afford children. Growing up, her parents had always told her she’d do better than they had. What went wrong?

Emily did not have to think hard about what went wrong. Her father had been able to pay for college with what he earned at summer jobs, and then got a manager-level job straight out of school. Between college and graduate school, Emily had accumulated 70,000 in student debt that she was still slowly paying off. Houses in Emily’s town, even adjusting for inflation, cost several times what they did when Emily’s parents bought one. Cars had leaped in price about as much. The only thing that hadn’t gone up was income.

Unable to cope with having less than her parents had, Emily had used her credit cards.

Solving the Problem
Emily knew that since her lack of financial skills had dug her into her rut, she would need outside help to dig herself back out.

She had heard about credit counseling services that took large chunks of the payments you made against your debt, so she was careful. She found a counseling agency that was a member of the Better Business Bureau, American Association of Debt Management Organizations and whose credit counselors are certified through the National Institute for Financial Counseling Education. Doing a quick search on the web, Emily verified that these were organizations with real standards and not just empty names.

Here’s what Emily got from the credit counseling service:

* Relief. Emily was relieved to learn that her 10,000 credit card debt is in fact about average for Americans. The credit counseling agency showed her that even if she didn’t have the advantages she hada decent job and home equityshe would be able to rid herself of her debt if she just faced up to it.

* Surprise. The agency urged her to put money away for a rainy day fund, even as her credit card interest mounted. But once she started saving, she felt amazing. She realized she had been under enormous stress from always being one paycheck away from poverty.

* Understanding. The counselor understood Emily’s reluctance to take out a loan, and helped her create a budget that would let her pay off her consolidated debt within a few years. Besides the car, all Emily had to give up were smaller expenses.

* Clarity. With her finances planned, Emily could think much more clearly about her financial situation. She figured out how much more money she would have to make to have her desired lifestyle, and aggressively pursued a new job. Starting fresh with her new coworkers, Emily focused on meeting people who were less materialisticand even met her fianc.

Though her fianc has no better financial prospects, Emily’s confident they can afford to give their children all the essentials she had, even if in a smaller house.

After all, Emily knows that solid finances are just as good a shelter as a roof over your head.