Credit Cards Tips for You

Purchasing a home is without a doubt the most exciting thing that can happen to anyone. It is the single largest purchase you will make in your life. Many people chose to purchase homes because they are tired of paying someone else’s mortgage by paying rent each month.

There are a lot of people who want to take the plunge and purchase a home but they are afraid of what it entails. They may feel like they are biting off more then they can chew. Along with the mortgage payments, there will be repair bills, on top of the monthly bills, upkeep on the home and property, and if you live in an area where there is inclement weather, there will be snow removal, and seasonal clean up. It is enough to scare anyone into staying a renter.

It does not have to be like that; many people choose to purchase a condominium as their first home to find out if it is really what they want. There are many benefits to purchasing a condo, the greatest being that you will not have to do any of the outside maintenance on the property.

When you purchase a condo, there will be a monthly fee to the condominium association. T

Read more…

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of your everyday life, have you ever stopped to think about saving for your future? Lets be honest, most of us havent. When youre busy just trying to make ends meet, the last thing you will probably think about is where your life will be at 60.

Sure, you may picture yourself old and gray, perhaps happily married and playing with your grandchild, but where youll be financially is not really something that comes to mind. However, the truth is, investing in your future is one of the smartest things you can possibly do for yourself.

Thankfully, today, there are many credit cards available directly tied to investment accounts that also offer great, lucrative rewards. So, if youre not the type to generally put money away in to a savings account, this may be an excellent alternative for you.

1) Directly Links to your Investment Account – When you sign up for an investment credit card, your cash rewards are directly deposited into your investment account, such as ones offered by Fidelity or Charles Schwab. I

Read more…

The Verdict: The OnPoint Platinum Visa card comes in two versions: a standard credit card and a rewards card. Both cards feature no annual fee, no transaction fees for balance transfers and cash advances and low APRs. The rewards card, however, earns points for every purchase that can be redeemed for travel or merchandise. With the potential for a low APR and no transaction fees, both cards make a good choice for cardholders who want to transfer balances from a high interest card or use their card to carry a balance or earn rewards.

Overview: OnPoint Credit Union offers two versions of their Platinum Visa card to members. The regular version of the card features a low APR, no annual fee and no hidden fee. The Rewards version, on the other hand, allows cardholders to earn points on every purchase that can be redeemed for merchandise, travel and more. Both cards are a good choice for consumers and keep costs low while offering a number of benefits.

How These Cards Work: The OnPoint Platinum Visa card is accepted worldwide and gives cardholders a 25 day grace period to pay their balance in full and avoid interest charges.

Read more…

Dear Creditnet: I filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 1, 2009, and I’ve avoided any type of credit since then. I haven’t even checked my credit scores in years.

When will the bankruptcy fall off my credit reports, and will it happen automatically? If it doesn’t happen automatically, what do I need to do to convince the credit bureaus to remove it?

- Jake from WI

Answer: According to the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act), most negative items can remain on your credit reports for seven years. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy, on the other hand, happens to be one of those negative marks that can stick around longer. In fact, a chapter 7 bankruptcy can remain on your credit reports for 10 years from the date of filing.

Since you filed chapter 7 on April 1, 2009, you could still have more than 7 years to wait before the bankruptcy permanently disappears from your credit reports. That’s the bad news. The goo

Read more…

Credit cards offer consumers more than just a chance to buy things before they have all the cash in one place. In situations where the cardholder is wronged or taken advantage of, credit cards offer a certain level of buyer protection. This makes credit cards the ideal form of payment when you are working with vendors, contractors, and purchasing services that may or may not pan out to your expectations.

If you do use a credit card to pay for services, it gives you a little bit of leeway when it comes to paying off the purchase. There is usually a little extra time between when you pay the deposit and when your bill comes due, giving you some breathing room in case something goes wrong with the job or the purchase. That way canceling a payment is much more feasible than if you had written a check, or worst of all, paid in cash.

Although consumer protection is probably the biggest benefit of paying for various contractor and vendor services with a credit card, you are sure to see additional benefits. For one, you shouldn’t overlook the fact that rewards credit cards provide additional value with your purchases, giving you points or money back based on what you spend.

Read more…