“Simply use these checks to pay-off your loans, bills, and other higher-rate credit cards. Or, use them for home improvements, a dream vacation, or ...”
It peaks your interest, doesn’t it?
Odds are good you’ve received credit card offers reading much like this. (If you look in the mail today, one is probably there.) Lately, it seems credit card companies are tripping over themselves to give you low intrest credit cards and balance transfer offers.
What gives?
Understanding "introductory".
The key word, in these credit card offers, is “introductory.” Banks offer a great rate for new purchases, and/or balance transfers, for a few months. After that, they move the rate back up, counting on you to let your debt ride at the higher rate.
Trash or Treasure?
Many throw offers, for low intrest credit cards, like these into the junk mail pile. Sometimes, this is a mistake.
Often, people don’t want to be bothered transferring balances. However, if it takes 10 hours, over the course of a year, to save $1,000 by doing transfers, it’s $100-per-hour for your time.
Carrying credit card debt.
For those carring a lot of debt, it makes sense to find a way to lessen finance charges.
Transferring balances, from one card to another, is useful to take advantage of introductory low intrest credit cards. Often, these rates result in significant interest savings. This include financing purchases with low introductory purchase rates. Some balance transfer offers tout a 0% interest for one year.
Read the Fine Print.
Marketing departments depend on using the most enticing details, of an offer, to grab you. It distracts attention away from less attractive parts, of the offer. Usually, these are listed in the fine print.
Inform yourself about all terms, before signing-up. If the fine print is too daunting, give the bank a call and ask about the terms.
Be sure to know.
For offers with low-interest introductory periods, find out what the introductory rate is. Know how long it lasts. If the rate increases, after the introductory period, fihd out what it is. Do they charge a fee for balance transfer?
Don't get caught.
Do new purchases have a different rate than the balance transfer. Often, they do. If so, don't use that card for new purchases. Your payments apply first to the low interest debt. This leaves debt, at the higher rate, accumulating more finance charges. Thus, it reduces potential savings.
Sometimes offers require one or two purchases each month. Usually, there is no minimum purchase amount. In this case, the offer works in your favor by buying very low-priced items, such as a pack of gum.