Month: April 2019

Even though it’s not really the “shopping” season, your mailbox is still probably stuffed with offers for loans, credit cards, and catalog offers on a regular basis.  Why is that?  Since when did it become a year round thing to “sell” us, the consumer, on a different credit card, a personal loan, or store credit card?   Well, with the advent of online shopping, the use of credit cards has skyrocketed, as has the use of store credit, catalog offers, and online loan options (home, car, personal and even payday loans).

But how do you know if you’re getting the best credit card for your credit score?  How do you know you’re getting the right card for your financial needs?   Do you need cash back rewards?  Or would a travel rewards card better benefit you?

And if your credit is less than perfect?  Would a secured credit card boost your credit score more than a store credit card?  Would you qualify for an unsecured credit card?  Do you even know your credit score?

These are some pretty tough questions when you really think about it, aren’t they?  Do you really think that filling out one or more of those mass mailer offers will get you the right credit card for your needs?

The truth is, most of those offers that land in your mailbox aren’t customized to your needs.  They’re sent out as a bulk mailing to thousands of people in your area whose credit score is likely similar to yours, based on your age, where you live, and even what most people in your area do for a living… There is absolutely nothing “custom” at all about it.  So, before you respond to one of those offers, you might just want to do a little comparison shopping.

Start with your credit score, then choose offers that best fit YOU:

Do you have plans for your summer vacation?  Or are you still trying to figure out how you’ll pay for it?

Without careful planning, your summer vacation can end up costing you money for years and years!  Especially if you’re planning to use a credit card to pay for all or part of the expenses associated with a vacation, you might just want to take a good, hard look at ALL of your credit cards.

Are any of your credit cards rewards cards?  Could you use a rewards card to pay for gas, airline tickets, lodging while you’re on vacation?  And if you do use a rewards card, what will your actual reward be?  Is there a better reward card out there?

Do any of your credit cards offer a special rate for large purchases?  Maybe there’s an interest free option that you could take advantage of?  If not, is there a credit card that you could use that does offer introductory incentives like 0% interest?

What’s your current credit card interest rate?  Is there a better credit card with a better interest rate?  Maybe your credit score has changed for the better?  If so, you owe it to yourself to compare your current cards with other offers!

Once you’ve got your financing in order, and you see what you have to spend, then it’s much easier to plan a summer vacation!

Who knows… you might have more vacation options than you thought you did!