Are you planning to travel abroad this summer? Which credit card you take with you on your next international trip could have a big impact on the final cost of your journey and on how smoothly your trip goes. Here are the terms and features you should look for when choosing the right credit card for travel outside the United States.
1. Foreign Transaction Fees
Many credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of 3% per purchase. If you pay for all of your hotel stays and most of your meals and other expenses on a credit card while you’re abroad, those repeated 3% fees will add up by the time you get home.
Read full story
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Path to Good Credit After College
Dear Opening Credits,
I do not have a credit card because I just graduated from college. I owe on student loans that I need to repay, but in the meantime I would like to get a credit card of my own and want to get a credit history so I can get a card.What do you think I should do? Would a prepaid card help me? Thanks for your thoughts.
-Vanessa
Dear Vanessa,
Congratulations! Did you know that only about a third of Americans have four-year college degrees? And now that you do, it's time you augment it with some real life lessons about money and credit. Here's my four-part, tuition-free course:
Read more:
RESOURCES
I do not have a credit card because I just graduated from college. I owe on student loans that I need to repay, but in the meantime I would like to get a credit card of my own and want to get a credit history so I can get a card.What do you think I should do? Would a prepaid card help me? Thanks for your thoughts.
-Vanessa
Dear Vanessa,
Congratulations! Did you know that only about a third of Americans have four-year college degrees? And now that you do, it's time you augment it with some real life lessons about money and credit. Here's my four-part, tuition-free course:
Read more:
RESOURCES
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
New Bank Rules: Free Credit Scores with Loan Denials
Most of us don’t know our credit scores, but beginning next week there will be a new, free way for some of us to learn. Starting July 21, if you are denied a private student loan, small business loan, mortgage or credit card — or even given one but with a less favorable rate — the lender must provide you with a letter explaining why, and include the credit score it used to arrive at its decision.
The Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission jointly decided to enact this law to help create more transparency in the lending market. But if you don’t know your credit score ahead of applying for a loan, best not to wait for a rejection letter from the bank.
Read full story
RESOURCES:
The Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission jointly decided to enact this law to help create more transparency in the lending market. But if you don’t know your credit score ahead of applying for a loan, best not to wait for a rejection letter from the bank.
Read full story
RESOURCES:
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Lenders now have to tell you your credit score if denied
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - If you don't know your credit score, you might find out from an unexpected source.
Starting July 21st, the government will require banks and lenders to tell you your score if they deny your request for a loan or credit card.
They're just numbers. Just three little numbers. But put those numbers together, and they can be a sign of your future. They can determine if you can buy a car, afford a new house, or open a credit card. That's right we're talking about your credit score.
Read full story
RESOURCES:
* Secured Credit Cards
* Prepaid Credit Cards
Starting July 21st, the government will require banks and lenders to tell you your score if they deny your request for a loan or credit card.
They're just numbers. Just three little numbers. But put those numbers together, and they can be a sign of your future. They can determine if you can buy a car, afford a new house, or open a credit card. That's right we're talking about your credit score.
Read full story
RESOURCES:
* Secured Credit Cards
* Prepaid Credit Cards
Monday, July 11, 2011
Prepaid Credit Card Fees May Drop Thanks to Failed Lawsuit Against Kardashians Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/06/16/prep
The drama surrounding the infamous Mobile Resource Card, much better known as the Karadashian Kard, is almost over.
In case you haven't heard, Revenue Resource Group, the Clovis, Calif. company that produced the well-known reloadable credit card, attempted to sue the reality television stars and sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, as well as their mother, Kris Jenner, for $75 million. But the case was thrown out this week by a judge in Fresno's California Superior Court.
Revenue Resource Group claimed that the reason the Kardashian Kard tanked as a product was because its celebrity spokespersons disparaged it to the press. Ergo, it was also their fault that other celebrity endorsement deals fell through.
Read full story
In case you haven't heard, Revenue Resource Group, the Clovis, Calif. company that produced the well-known reloadable credit card, attempted to sue the reality television stars and sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, as well as their mother, Kris Jenner, for $75 million. But the case was thrown out this week by a judge in Fresno's California Superior Court.
Revenue Resource Group claimed that the reason the Kardashian Kard tanked as a product was because its celebrity spokespersons disparaged it to the press. Ergo, it was also their fault that other celebrity endorsement deals fell through.
Read full story
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Debt Adviser: Credit card bill requires discipline to fix
Dear Debt Adviser: I am considering refinancing my mortgage. My plan is to take out cash to pay off my $80,000 credit card debt, which is more than the $63,000 I owe on the house. I can easily handle the new monthly payment. With the savings from not making credit card payments, I can make additional payments on the mortgage principal. My current mortgage has 11 years remaining, and the new mortgage would be for 15 years. So in other words, I'd be paying my house off in about the same time frame, anyway. Would this be a well-advised move? -- Robert
Dear Robert: Eighty thousand dollars on your credit cards? That is a huge amount of debt. Before you do anything, I want you to seriously analyze how you acquired so much debt. You must be sure that you can live day to day without racking up another $80,000 in new debt after any refinancing.
Read full story
Dear Robert: Eighty thousand dollars on your credit cards? That is a huge amount of debt. Before you do anything, I want you to seriously analyze how you acquired so much debt. You must be sure that you can live day to day without racking up another $80,000 in new debt after any refinancing.
Read full story
Monday, July 4, 2011
Prepaid Credit Cards: Stay within Budget this Summer
The cost of living is causing many Brits to worry about their finances this summer, so this article takes a look at how the consumer can take the stress out of budgeting.
A prepaid credit card can be used in a similar way as a normal credit or debit card, in that users can make purchases with it in retail shops, online, and to retrieve cash.
Even if a consumer has a bad credit rating, they will be able to receive a prepaid credit card as a person’s credit history is not even analysed.
Read full story
A prepaid credit card can be used in a similar way as a normal credit or debit card, in that users can make purchases with it in retail shops, online, and to retrieve cash.
Even if a consumer has a bad credit rating, they will be able to receive a prepaid credit card as a person’s credit history is not even analysed.
Read full story
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
