People use cards every day to pay for things as big as new appliances or as small as a hamburger. They are convenient and easy to use for everyone. They are also easy for most people to get, especially if they have a good history.
Alaska Airlines has a credit card branded just for them. You can read about Alaska Airlines Credit Card Review online if you want to look. There are a lot of good reviews about this particular card.
This article will tell you more about these cards and how to get them. It will give you some ideas about where to find one that is best for you. You can do some more research and find out more information.
What to Know About Credit Cards
1. The Best Ones Are not for Beginners –
You must build up a good history before you can get one of the better cards. You do this by starting with a card to help build that history. There are a few different cards that can help you to do this.
One card is a student card that is often offered to college students who are on their own for the first tim. Another is a secured card that requires you to make a cash deposit before you use it. These are just two of the cards, they also offer cards to people with fair credit.
2. A Security Card Can Make Plastic Easier to Get –
Secured cards are easier to get than other ones. These cards require you to deposit from $200 to $500 on the card. That amount will then be your limit.
3. Build Your Credit or Ruin It –
Your first card can build your score, or it can ruin it. It depends on how you use it. If you are careful and only use it when you need to, you can build it. If you spend your limit and then fail to make your payments on time, you can ruin it.
4. Rates and Fees Can Be Shown Before You Apply –
Federal law says that your plastic should disclose all the fees that go along with your card. This means interest rates and all other fees that you might be expected to pay. You can read this information before you apply for your card.
5. You Can Avoid Fees –
There are many cards that do not charge any annual fees, even beginner ones. If you pay on time, there will not be any late fees to pay. If you stay within your spending limit, you will not be charged any over-limit fees.
6. Interest Fees Can Be Avoided, too–
If you pay your bill in full each month before your bill comes due, you will not have to pay your interest fees. You get to use the plastic with absolutely no fees if you use it right and pay on time. If you do not do these things, the fees can get expensive.
7. You Can Pay More Than Your Minimum –
You can, and probably should, pay more than your minimum each month. If you pay the minimum, you are only paying the interest and any fees. If you pay more than this, you are paying for some of the balance, as well.
8. Paying Late is Costly –
You do not want to miss your payment due date because it can get very costly for you. You will have late fees, penalty APRs, score damage, and possibly more. See here to learn more about your fees. Set your account up for automatic payments so that you can avoid any late fees.
9. If You Get Close to Your Limit, You Can Ruin Your Score –
Be careful of your credit utilization ratio – the amount of credit that you use compared to what you have available. Your scores will take a hit if you get too close to your limit. You want to build your credit so do not get too close to your limit.
10. Credit Cards Have Fraud Protection –
These cards have better fraud protection than debit cards. Unlike a debit card, your plastic is not using your own money – it is the bank’s money. You do not have to pay for anything that was fraudulently used. Getting a replacement card is relatively easy for you.
Conclusion
There are many things that you need to be aware of when you are getting new plastic. If you need your first card, there are ones that are specially made for that, including student cards. If you pay on time and in full each month, you could save some money.
You need to be careful of your credit utilization so that you do not lower your score. Pay more than the minimum payment each month and you can save on some interest fees. These are just a few tips to help you with you so that you can increase your credit score and not lower it.
