A credit card can be a financial tool used to enhance the quality of the cardholder’s life, or it can be the major cause of debt accumulation, depending on the card’s terms and conditions and the way in which the account holder uses it. Higher rates and fees ultimately mean more debt and financial stress in the long run, which is why it’s important to examine the fine print on a credit card offer before applying. The following are the four most important terms to consider when choosing a credit card.

Introductory Periods

The majority of credit cards offer some form of an introductory period, during which special rates are applied and certain fees are waived. Many

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Underlying growth in credit card borrowing rose slightly in October to 3.2 per cent, it has been confirmed.

David Dooks, statistics director of the British Bankers’ Association, observed that the use of credit cards for purchases is seeing a slow trend increase over time.

“But consumers regularly repay more than they spend, and cards are used much less to withdraw cash than they were a year ago,” he added.

These statistics cover the world-wide transactions of UK resident holders of credit cards issued in the UK by financial institutions affiliated to the Visa, Mastercard or Amex organisations.

Earlier this week, Richard Sorsky, a money advice co-ordinator at the UK InsolvencyHelpline.co.uk, observed that having a credit card is no longer perceived as a luxury. Read full article…

If you live in America, you probably stuffed yourself silly Thursday with turkey and pie. Perhaps you’re even still digesting. Did you also take some time to think about what you are thankful for?

When I was young, every year at Thanksgiving my grandmother would come over to the kids table and make us tell her what we were thankful for that year. I didn’t enjoy this practice at the time, but now that I’m older, I think it was wise to have us reflect on this. This tradition has fizzled as we have grown older, but I still try to do a self-check every Thanksgiving and think about what I’m grateful for.

This year, I know several people who have struggled to pay off their student loans. I am very grateful that I am not saddled with student debt.

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There used to be thousands of student credit card offers out there, all competing for clients. College students just had to walk on campus, fill out a form, and presto: a brand new credit card, no credit check or history required. These days, though, things aren’t so simple, and credit card offers are fewer and further between.

What happened?

There are a number of reasons that student credit card offers have slowed over the past year or so. The main two, though, are the economy and new federal laws involving credit cards, primarily the Credit Card Reform Act. While the Credit Card Reform Act is generally a good thing, it has made it harder for students to get credit cards.

In the past, companies were pretty reckless with student credit card offers.

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Business credit card rewards programs offer additional incentives for business owners to use their card, which already offers a host of advantages. Although it’s not advisable to select a credit card on a rewards program alone (as factors such as interest rates, fees, repayment terms, and the needs of the business are certainly more important), after choosing a suitable business credit card, it’s a good idea to investigate its rewards program and what it has to offer. If the decision does come down to what types of rewards are offered with the card, consider choosing between one of the following three business credit card rewards programs.

Cash Back Rewards

This is by far the most popular type of rewards program offered with business credit cards, primarily because it offers unprecedented control in regards to how the rewards money is spent. Wit

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