Low interest credit cards can provide you with substantial savings when it comes to interest expenses. Of course, the best way to save on interest is to pay the balance of your credit card off at the end of each billing cycle. In this way, you get to borrow the money for a brief time without having to pay any interest. For many people, however, paying the credit card bill off at the end of each month isn’t always a realistic option. Therefore, low interest rate credit cards are the best alternative.
Finding Cheap Credit Cards
Fortunately, finding cheap credit cards is not all that difficult, particularly if you have a good credit history. All of the major credit card companies, including MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express, offer low interest credit cards. Therefore, you can easily apply for one with your preferred company. Often, these companies will send mailings to your home or advertise their low interest rate credit cards on television.
While advertisements and mailings provide you with a great way to learn more about your available options, you should also research other low interest credit cards. After all, one way some of these companies manage to keep their interest rates low is by cutting out advertising expenses. Therefore, the best way to browse through available cheap credit cards is to visit a website offering side-by-side comparisons of credit cards. In this way, you can look at the introductory rates, long term rates, and additional benefits of the cheap credit cards you are considering.
The Introductory Offer
The introductory offer provides you with one great way to save on interest expenses. Many credit cards provide a special introductory offer in order to entice new customers to apply for their credit card. In fact, several of these introductory offers are 0.00% APRs and can last as long as one year. More commonly, however, these special rates last for 6 months, three months, or one month. Often, your credit history plays a role in determining how long your introductory offer is good for.
When taking advantage of an introductory offer, you need to be sure to find out what the APR will be after the introductory period is complete. It is not uncommon for the rate to be quite high afterward. Therefore, you will need to be sure to pay off the balance entirely when the introductory period is over in order to get the optimum savings on interest expenses. If this is not a possibility for you, then be sure to select low interest credit cards that remain low interest after the introductory period is over.
The Low Fixed Rate
Another option with cheap credit cards is a low fixed interest rate. These cards do not necessarily have a great introductory rate, but the rate remains continuously low when compared to other credit cards. This is often the best option if you know you will be maintaining a balance on your credit card for a long period of time. Although the low fixed rate may not be as enticing as a 0.00% introductory rate, it can still save you substantial amounts of money in the long run.
Here is an example:
If you carry a balance of just $1,000 on your credit card for one year with a 20% APR, you will end up spending $200 that year in interest. On the other hand, a low interest credit card with a fixed APR of 8% will only cost you $80 in interest that year – saving you $120.
Low interest rate credit cards with attractive introductory rates and low interest rate credit cards with low fixed rates can each save you money when it comes to interest expenses. Be sure to consider both options carefully and to analyze your spending habits and your income to determine the one that is best for you.
For more information on what to watch for in low interest rate credit cards, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssistdotcom.