jyecmt: Feb 17, 2008

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Credit Cards - A Powerful Wealth Tool

In fact, when used properly, credit cards are a very powerful wealth-building tool! I use credit cards for every single possible purchase.

By using credit cards you get...

1) A two-months interest free loan

When you buy a product using your credit card, you will only be billed for it at the end of the month. You are then given another month to make payment. So, if you pay off your total bill, you would have effectively gotten a two-month interest free loan.

2) Bonus points and dollars

Each purchase you make on your credit card(s) will earn you bonus points which you can use to redeem for free products and services like extra flyer -miles and dining vouchers, saving you even more money.

3) A monthly statement that tracks and consolidates all your expenses

At the end of every month, the credit card company will tabulate for you the total expenses for the month, making it easy for you to track your total expenditure. So it becomes a free money management tool.

However, you MUST ALWAYS PAY THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE when you pay the full balance every month. This way, the bank does not earn a cent off you, but you get the three great wealth building services mentioned above. This is what I do and that is why my bankers hate me.

So why do banks go all out, giving freebies and spend millions of dollars in advertising to hook you on using their card? They know that there are many consumers out there who just pay the minimum sum every month (about 3% of the total debt you owe), because it is so tempting. What's worse is that many credit card owners don't even pay their minimum sum on time because of a cash crunch or because they plain forgot.

The moment you pay only the minimum sum and allow your outstanding balance to roll, you become the bank's best friend. This is when they will make a killing off you! Why? This is because banks charge a 2% per month interest on your outstanding sum. This may seem small, but again, that's 24% interest a year. Just how much interest does this add up to? Let's do the sums...

Question: Imagine if you had an outstanding balance of $2,000 on your credit card statement, and you just pay the minimum sum of $60, how long will it take for you to pay off the while balance? (this is only assuming you do not charge a single dollar more).

The shocking answer: It will take you 4.5 years! You would have paid a total of $3,300, that's $1,300 in interest. In other words, you would pay an actual interest rate of 65% off your balance.

So when used properly credit cards can greatly assist you in creating wealth or it can destroy you if abused.

Adam Khoo is an entrepreneur, best-selling author and a self-made millionaire by the age of 26. Discover his million dollar secrets and claim your FREE bonus report 'Get Out Of The Rat Race Now' at Secrets Of Self-Made Millionaires

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Tips for Students to Build Credit

Creating good credit and getting student credit cards is new territory for college students. Your future is starting now and you probably haven't given much thought to building your credit. Getting off on the right foot is crucial for your financial future. Making the wrong moves can haunt you for years and you should be aware of the risks and rewards when it comes to your credit score.

Your credit score tells lenders if you are a low-risk person who manages their money and credit well, or if you are careless and reckless with your finances. If your credit is good, you'll enjoy low interest rates on loans and credit cards, lower minimum payments than your peers and more lending options will be available to you. This can be very important when it comes to making major purchases such as vehicles or buying your first home. Making bad choices and careless uninformed decisions can lead to a life of high interest, high payments and simply not qualifying for that car or house that you need. The worse your credit gets, the more you pay for everything that needs financing. Trending in this direction can lead you on a downward spiral of out of control debt.

You may not know exactly where to start to ensure that you get the best deal and establish the best score possible. You are probably starting out with no credit score at all and applying for loans and credit cards can be disappointing when you are rejected again and again. Make wise choices. Don't get one just to go shopping or on a trip with your friends. Make sure that you really do have a necessity and don't overcharge any more than you need.

When choosing a card, you may have some luck going through your bank or credit union, but there are companies that have special previsions for students. It is generally best to avoid companies that be preying on the fact that you seem nave about credit cards. Beware of representatives that offer free t-shirts or any other types of prizes for filling out an application. That freebie could end up costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees and interest in the long run. Look for good introductory rates that don't balloon into something horrible after the promotion runs out. Compare interest rates, fees and terms of many cards before making a decision.

You may need to start out with a secured credit card. These are ones that require you to put money up front, use the card and prove that you are responsible enough to make payments on-time. Making on-time payments is one of the best pieces of advice you can get. Interest rates can fluctuate very quickly when a payment is missed. Fees are usually extremely high and you can get yourself into a bind that you can't afford to get out of. Always pay more than the minimum required and pay off balances as quickly as possible. Show your responsibility to your credit card company and your credit score will reflect your diligence. Once you establish your good credit score, it will pay off for years to come.

About the Author: Mary Wallace, a retired teacher, is the editor for studentcreditcards.com, a provider of student credit cards and information plus consolidation of student credit cards. For more information, please visit http://www.studentcreditcards.com

jyecmt

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Credit Cards - A Powerful Wealth Tool

Tips for Students to Build Credit

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