Michael D. Strauss's Articles Personal Finance (1) Loans (8) Debt Consolidation (2) Credit (25) Display Category|Title|Newest|Oldest 5 Reasons To Stop And Think Before Taking Out A Secured Loan Taking out a secured loan can have far reaching consequences for your finances, and so it pays to take your time over the decision. This article discusses some of the potential drawbacks that you should be aware of before committing to a loan. A Brief History Of Credit Cards Despite being so commonplace in modern life, credit cards have a relatively short history. Read when the first cards appeared, and how they developed into the products we know today. Are Online Credit Card Applications Too Easy? Applying online for a credit card is easier than ever, but there is a danger to be aware of. Find out the harm it can do to your credit rating, and how to avoid it. Balance Transfers Plus A Savings Account Equals Easy Cash The practice of shifting debt from one credit card to another to take advantage of 0% balance transfer deals isn't as popular as it once was, but a related activity is still alive and well. Find out how balance transfers could actually make you money for nothing. Benefits Of A Business Credit Card Running a business means that there are dozens of things competing for your time, and so anything you can do to streamline your operation is to be welcomed. Find out how taking out a business credit card can improve the financial side of your enterprise. Charity Credit Cards - A Good Deal? Charity credit cards are often presented as an easy way to donate to charity without any cost to yourself, but is it really that simple? This article shows how there might be more cost effective options available. Credit Card Balance Transfer Fees Credit card balance transfer offers were so popular that they ended up costing the credit card industry serious amounts of money. Something had to be done, so the balance transfer 'handling fee' was born. Credit Card Basics Applying for a credit card is a common online activity, but how can you decide which one to go for? Understanding the basics will go a long way in helping you to reach your decision. Credit Card Cheques - An Expensive Convenience Credit card cheques are touted by card issuers as a convenient way to use your account when cards aren't accepted, but it's not always made clear how much they cost. Credit Cards And Your Credit Score Your credit rating is the major factor in deciding what kind of credit card is worth applying for. Find out what you can expect at different levels of credit scoring. Credit Cards: Why You Should Pay More Than The Minimum Credit cards are a great convenience, but it can be all to easy to let your debt slide out of control. Making only the minimuum repayments will make the situation worse, and this article explains why. Does Your Credit Card Pay Its Way? Most people by now aware of the potential dangers of credit cards in that it's all to easy to run up excessive debts. However, not as many people realise that using a credit card can actually be a profitable activity. Flat Rate Credit Cards Most credit cards feature different interest rates depending on how they're used. Purchases, balance transfers, cash withdrawals, introductory offers... the number of different rates can be confusing. Flat rate cards charge the same APR for everything, making it easier to keep track of how much your card is costing. Get in Control of Your Credit Card Debt Using credit cards can make day to day life more simple, reducing the need to carry cash and making it easy to shop online and by telephone. However, spending with plastic can sometimes be a little too easy, and many people find their balances get out of control. Getting a Loan When You're a Tenant It's been easier than ever in recent years for people who own their own home to be accepted for loans and other credit. What's the situation for tenants and others who aren't homeowners? Getting The Best From Balance Transfers While credit card balance transfers are perhaps not as popular as they once were, they can still offer great benefits if used properly. Find out how to make the most of the facility. Homeowner Loan Opportunities For People With Bad Credit High levels of consumer debt coupled with a worsening economy mean that more and more people are picking up a bad credit rating. However, homeowner loans could give you the opportunity to halt the slide and get your finances back on track - even with poor credit. Homeowner Loans Offer Significant Advantages - And Risk Homeowner loans are often cheaper and easier to be approved for than unsecured finance, which has lead to them becoming so popular. There is however the risk of property loss involved, and this needs to be balanced against the advantages when making the decision to apply. How Debt Consolidation Can Go Wrong Consolidation can be a powerful tool for getting in control of your debts, but can also be dangerous if done badly. Find out the pitfalls to avoid when consolidating your debts. How Exactly Do Online Payday Loans Work? While expensive, an online payday loan can be of real use when funds are short at the end of a month. How do they work, and who can apply? How Important Is Credit Card APR? Many credit card advertisements feature a low APR as the most prominent feature, but is that the most important thing with a card? There are many other benefits to consider, which might be more valuable than a low rate. Is Cashback The Future For Credit Cards? Cashback is a feature of credit cards that is rapidly growing in popularity. Why is this and how could you benefit? Is It Time To Upgrade Your Credit Card? If you've been using the same credit card for several years, you could well be missing out. Competition in the credit card industry over the years has delivered more and more benefits for cardholders. Is it time you upgraded to a better deal? Keeping Track Of Your Credit Card APR Your credit card's APR determines how expensive it is to use your card, and is one of the most important things to consider when comparing new cards. However, existing cardholders need to keep an eye on their APRs too. Simple Steps to Prevent Credit Card Fraud Credit card fraud costs hundreds of millions every year, and is a distressing and damaging experience for the victims. Fortunately, there are some simple ways of vastly reducing the chances of it happening to you. The Basics Behind Personal Loans Are you properly prepared to make a loan application? There are certain basics you need to know about before plumping for the perfect loan deal. The Different Types Of Online Loan Sites With all the thousands of loan sites on the web, how do you know which one to choose? Read about the different kinds of site you'll come across during your loan research. The Downsides to Debt Consolidation Debt consolidation is often portrayed as a simple way out of your debt troubles and money worries, but when is life ever that simple? There are drawbacks to consolidation that you need to bear in mind before making your decision to continue. The Severe Drawbacks of Payday Loans Payday loans are often touted as an easy solution to financial problems - they're not! Although they have a place in the financial services industry, they can have severe drawbacks if not used very carefully. Tricks Credit Card Companies Use To Ramp Up Your Bills Credit card companies are notorious for squeezing every last drop of profit out of their customers. Find out the ways they do this and how to keep in front. Turning Lead Into Gold - Getting A Credit Card With Bad Credit More and more people are picking up bad credit ratings as the economy continues to worsen. This doesn't necessarily have to mean you can't get a new credit card though. When Not To Use A Credit Card Credit cards are a convenient part of modern life, but unfortunately it can be all too easy to run up problem levels of debt. Knowing when card use is inappropriate will help prevent your card getting you into trouble. Which Kind Of Credit Card Should I Choose? There are so many credit cards available with different features, it can be hard to decide which one to apply for. A simple way of narrowing the field is to base your decision on your spending habits, rather than being swayed by eyecatching advertisements promoting features you may not need. Why Choose A Gas Credit Card? Gas credit cards are now available from almost every gas station it seems. Why would you choose one over an ordinary card? Why Comparing Credit Cards Before Applying Is So Important With so many credit cards of different kinds on the market today, it really pays to choose carefully. Read how to effectively compare cards from different issuers and get the right one for your situation. Why You Need A Credit Card Once viewed as an exotic and even unnecessary thing to carry, credit cards have now become ubiquitous. Indeed, it's becoming evermore difficult to take part in modern society if you don't carry a card.	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