There are several important things you need to consider before you choose and apply for a credit card. Let’s have a look at some of them.
Ideally, you shouldn’t rush into every credit card application you like as denial will affect your credit score badly.
It is advised not to apply for credit cards three times within six months. But even when you qualify for a credit card, there is still something you need to know in order not to end up accumulating credit card debt that can be quite difficult to pay back.
Be watchful for interest rates that can be fixed and variable. If a credit card has a promo interest rate, be careful about go-to APR that can skyrocket after the introductory period is over. Avoid such credit cards with higher interest rates if you don’t want to pay through the nose.
Annual fee associated with credit cards is another point you need to be aware of. If you are looking for a no annual fee credit card, make sure that there is no annual fee on the credit card at all and the fee is not waived the first year only. There are other fees you need to pay your close attention to including balance transfer fee, cash advance fee, foreign transaction fee, and more.
When shopping for a rewards credit card see if the credit card comes with or without annual fee and always dig into every detail of the rewards programs. For instance, check if there is a cap on the number of points you can redeem, say in a month.
In a nutshell, when choosing the credit card that will be right for you, please read the fine print with utmost care since oftentimes credit cards are not what they seem to be.