What is a Credit Card?

A credit card allows you to buy things even though you might not have the money to pay for it right away. The company that gave you the card lets you spend up to an agreed sum and then makes additional money available to you as you pay off what you've spent. You must pay at least a minimum amount by the due date, generally once every month. You will pay a finance charge or interest on any amount you do not pay by the due date.

Today our entire financial system relies on credit. Credit cards can help to make your life that little bit easier- you can use it to pay for goods or services, either over the phone, online or over the counter.

Credit cards can enable you to have that little extra spending power when and where you need it. In addition to paying for purchases you can also use your credit cards in order to withdraw cash from a cash machine, not only in this country but all over the world.

It is increasingly difficult to operate in the modern economy without a credit card. Credit cards allow people to manage emergencies, to shop conveniently in the High Street, by telephone or over the internet and are useful when travelling abroad.

With each credit card you will have a limit to the amount of money that you can spend on it. This is known as a 'credit limit'. You can withdraw money and pay for goods and services as much as you want up to your credit limit, effectively borrowing capital from your credit card provider.

Every month you will receive a credit card statement that will detail both your balance (the amount of money you have either withdrawn or spent) and any interest that has accrued upon it. You can then either pay off the full amount or make the minimum payment.

A credit card allows the cardholder to borrow as much money (up to their credit limit) as they like, when and where they like, without having to get permission from their bank manager.

All credit cards have finance charges for not paying your balance in full each month, but you could save a lot of money by shopping around for the credit card that offers you the best terms.

Shop for a card with an interest free period that gives you enough time to pay your bills on time without charging you interest. Credit cards with no interest free period start charging you fees as soon as you buy something on your credit card.

A credit card is convenient for making purchases. It is also the best way to create a credit history for you, and this is necessary to do things like buy a home.

It is very easy to lose control of your spending habits if you rely on credit cards too often. While they can be very useful, credit cards can also be risky. Even people who are usually good with their money get into trouble with credit cards. The problem is that people use their credit cards too often and let their debt add up. Then they can only pay back small amounts at a time. This ends up costing a lot of money in finance charges.

Before applying for a credit card, you should decide why you want one, and make sure you can use it wisely.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

About The Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Latest News


PR Web (press release)

First California Financial Group Announces Passing of Chief Credit ...
CNNMoney.com - 13 hours ago
First California Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCAL) today announced that Walter Duchanin, executive vice president and chief credit officer of its ...
First California Financial Group Announces Passing of Chief Credit ... International Business Times
all 29 news articles

Reuters

Best Buy shares down after credit rating cut
Reuters - 14 hours ago
On Tuesday, S&P Ratings Services lowered its corporate credit rating on Best Buy to "BBB-" from "BBB," saying credit metrics would weaken more than ...
Best Buy Slides As S&P Sees Credit Picture Deteriorating Barron's Blogs
Downgraded Best Buy shares slide Minneapolis Star Tribune
Best Buy falls after debt downgrade Forbes
Reuters
all 28 news articles

Bond Risk Rises to Record in Europe, Credit-Default Swaps Show
Bloomberg - 31 minutes ago
20 (Bloomberg) -- The cost of protecting European corporate bonds from default rose to a record, according to traders of credit-default swaps. ...
Australia Corporate Bond Risk Rises, Credit-Default Swaps Show Bloomberg
Japanese Bond Risk Soars to Record on Concern Banks Weakening Bloomberg
Japan Corporate Bond Risk Rises to Record After Exports Plunge Bloomberg
all 8 news articles

12 D-FW red kettles will take credit for Salvation Army
Dallas Morning News, TX - 1 hour ago
By KIM HORNER / The Dallas Morning News For the first year, all that empty-pocketed shoppers have to do is swipe their credit cards on scanning technology ...

Credit Markets Fall to Records as Confidence in Economy Wanes
Bloomberg - 10 hours ago
19 (Bloomberg) -- Credit markets from commercial mortgages to junk bonds fell to record lows as concerns grew that the slowing economy would overwhelm ...

American Community Newspapers Inc. Reports 2008 Third Quarter ...
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
As previously reported, the Company is not in compliance with certain terms of its credit agreements, including financial and payment covenants, ...
MDU Communications' Preliminary Fiscal '08 Year End Results Boast ... MarketWatch
all 28 news articles

International Business Times

Fitch Rates DCP Midstream's $250MM Notes 'BBB+'; Outlook Stable
MarketWatch - 12 hours ago
The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include a partial repayment of its 364-day credit agreement entered into in April 2008. ...
Fitch Affirms Telmex IDR at 'A-'; Outlook Stable MarketWatch
Fitch Rates Alaska's Lease Revs 'AA-'; Outlook Stable MarketWatch
all 40 news articles

DLF May Delay Projects as Credit Crisis Saps Demand (Update1)
Bloomberg - 3 hours ago
By Bernie Lo and Sumit Sharma Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- DLF Ltd., India's biggest developer, may delay projects as growth slows in Asia's third biggest economy ...

PayPal to Offer Credit for Holiday Purchases
Wall Street Journal - 12 hours ago
By CHRISTOPHER LAWTON At a time when money is tight, eBay Inc.'s PayPal unit plans to offer consumers credit lines for online holiday purchases in a bid to ...
Research and Markets: This Essential Online Retail Payments ... MarketWatch
all 6 news articles

lawmakers propose tuition credit
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 9 hours ago
John Dougall, R-American Fork, proposed legislation Wednesday that would give higher education students a tuition tax credit. In light of the current ...
Debt load class issue Albany Times Union
Economy, debt make college less affordable The Tennessean
all 3 news articles

Resources