Sunday, May 2, 2010

Essential Tips on How to Get a Credit Card

Essential Tips on How to Get a Credit Card

By: Paul Wilson

Banks and their marketing associates and divisions are vying with one another to capture a thick slice of the "credit card pie." Offers by phone and mail of free credit cards, pre-approved credit cards, cards with special bonanzas, money back schemes, low introductory rates, and umpteen other perks pour in tempting you everyday.

A credit card is just a form of borrowing that does not come free. Credit terms, interest rates, fees and more can lay a stress on your bank balance. Credit cards are a temptation to spend now and pay later. What invariably happens is that people spend more than they can handle.

Informed consumers must always weigh carefully the pros and cons and compare different options before deciding on a credit card.

Before you decide find out

The advantages of a credit card are that it is a safe alternative to cash. Prevents loss as well as theft of cash. Using a card wisely can build a good credit history which helps when you need a loan or subsidy. It is useful in emergencies like accidents, urgent hospitalization, and unavoidable circumstances like natural calamities and so on. It grants a breather and gives you time to pay the bill. Some memberships offer travel or accident insurance to the card owners at no cost. They also offer privileges like discounts at restaurants, shopping malls, and holiday packages.

The other side is that you can get carried away and live beyond your means, ultimately falling into debt.

To be eligible you need:
  • To be at least 18 years old.
  • Have some income or the backing of credit worthy parents.
  • Have an operational bank account.
  • A telephone.
  • A good credit rating. Your monthly expenses must not equal or exceed your income. Ideal expenses must account for approximately 50% of your income.
  • To get a Visa or Master card your income must exceed US$ 12,000 a year. Or, you need to apply for a secured credit card where you pay upfront a certain amount of money as security deposit.
There are many kinds of credit cards to choose from. Unsecured standard and classic cards are those with a credit limit of US$ 2000 and generally charge higher interest rates and offer lower or less favorable terms than the platinum and gold cards. Unsecured platinum and gold cards are for people with high credit ratings, and the limits for these cards are between US$ 2000 to US$ 100,000.

Here are a few links that will give information and opportunities to apply for cards online:
  • Visa at www.usa.visa.com/?country=us&ep=v_gg_new provides information, gives tips, and has listed a number of financial institutions that offer Visa cards and a wide range of services. One can apply for a card online.
  • MasterCard International at www.mastercard.com/index.html is comprehensive with information, advice, and options of choosing and applying for a card online. They have an online form which when filled will give information of which card would be ideal and a channel which provides instant comparison of various card options.
  • CreditCards.com at http://www.creditcards.com/ has articles, FAQs, a site map, and online application channels.
Tips:
  • Pick a card because it has the lowest APR.
  • Pick a card because all its terms and conditions have been carefully vetted by you. Read the fine print.
  • Never pick a card because it is free for a year or life.
  • Do not choose a card because it offers a low introductory rate.

  • Do not choose a card because it has a cash back policy or great rewards programs.
Choose wisely and live debt free. Author Bio
Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for www.1866Creditcards.com, the premier website to find information on Credit Card including topics on credit card market, credit cards, business card credit comparison, card credit processing, credit card reviews, credit card offers, card credit deals and more. He also freelances for the premier Airport Parking Site www.1888Airportparking.com Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

Saturday, May 1, 2010

How To Save Money While On Vacation

How To Save Money While On Vacation

By: Jeff Lakie

A holiday does not have to cost you an arm and a leg if you know how to look for and take full advantage of the many exciting money saving offers that are available to you throughout the internet. Many companies offer specific online savings and packages that you cannot find anywhere else. These online savings and offers are available to you online only, so you will have to visit their websites to take advantage of them, and they are not made available to those who visit them offline.

Many travelers can enjoy a bundle of savings by booking hotel reservations, airline tickets, or car rentals online. Additionally, they can also find packages that will allow them to do many things they will enjoy for a fraction of the cost. These packages can often include many exciting attractions you can see within an area, hotel, transportation, and sometimes certain meals are included with in the packages. Packages are geared towards every interest, for example, they could be geared towards specific destinations world wide, such as Paris, Italy, Florida, Hawaii, and the like.
Other packages could be geared towards specific events or activities, such as hiking, camping, jungle adventures, cruises, singles events and trips, couples geared outings, musicals, major shopping trips, or site seeing in exciting new places. There are many websites on the internet that are available to you by simply using one of the many popular search engines. Websites like expedia.com offer a one stop shopping source for flight tickets, trains, car rentals, and hotel reservations. In addition, they offer advice on traveling, points of interest, and an easy to use online reservation request.

The internet has made it so much easier to plan a trip that the whole family can enjoy, you can plan your entire itinerary right on the internet and find some excellent travel and safety tips that you could use. If you need to purchase new items to take with you on your holiday you can also do that online with many special deals from online retailers that sell the products you need.

Take full advantage of all the internet has to offer by booking your entire holiday online and safe a ton of money in the process. After all a holiday is enjoyed so much more, when it is a bargain and money saving one. It will leave you more money to spend on necessities and fun things you want to do.

Author Bio
Jeff Lakie is a contributing author at our website where You can get a free Secured Loans Quote right now. Take a moment and see for yourself. Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

Caribbean Vacation Travel Cruise

Caribbean Vacation Travel Cruise

By: Magalie Noel Dresse

A Caribbean travel vacation cruise has much to offer to sophisticated travelers who recognize the great value in traveling to the islands. If you want a vacation that is rich with culture galore, quaint architecture, seas to explore, fantastic swimming and snorkeling, then the Caribbean has it and more.

Here, you will find some great Caribbean vacation travel cruise offers that are guaranteed to give you the best value in cruise traveling.

A Seven-Night Dream

Dreams become reality when you find yourself floating through warm, welcoming waters of the Caribbean on one of several Caribbean vacation travel cruise ships. Enjoy the sun, sand, and surf of a picture-perfect island during brief land excursions in any one of your ports of call and spend the day indulging in duty-free shopping, diving in clear blue waters, or exploring Mayan ruins.

With the coming of the cold months, the Royal Caribbean, one of the leading cruise lines on the islands, is offering many fantastic Caribbean vacation travel cruise offers to its visitors who opt to book early. One of these is the seven-night dream Caribbean vacation travel beginning at $478 per person, the cruise and featuring fabulous inside cabins where you can get excellent views of the dazzling ocean.

The Mariner of the Seas, which departs from Port Canaveral, Florida and takes you to four different ports of call where you can go on brief land excursions - Labadee, Hispaniola; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico - before you cruise back to Port Canaveral in Florida.

The Voyager of the Seas lets you start your Caribbean vacation travel cruise fun in Miami, Florida, and making brief stops in Hispaniola, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Mexico. The ship offers you four kinds of room accommodations, ranging from $549 to $2,049.00.

Other midsize ships mean a more spacious and comfortable Caribbean vacation travel cruise, with all the service and amenities you'd expect, but no waiting in long lines for meals or port of calls.

Three-Night Enchantment or Four-Night Excitement

Few places on earth are more conducive to relaxation than the islands of the Caribbean. Perhaps, it's the light, tropical breezes that gently soothe the soul. Or the warm waters and warm receptions tat await you on every shore. One thing is certain: aboard a Celebrity Caribbean vacation travel cruise, a Caribbean vacation offers something for everyone.

But if you want your Caribbean vacation travel cruise to be brief but enchanting, the Caribbean vacation travel cruise offers several short cruises for your pleasure. You'll find short Caribbean vacation travel cruises, just three nights long, out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for as little as $289 per person.

Or consider a bit longer, western Caribbean vacation travel cruise, four nights starting at $349, on the Enchantment of the Seas. Take a four-night Western Caribbean vacation travel cruise aboard the Century for only $330, starting from Miami, Florida. The cruise provides you with all the amenities you could ever wish from, from shipboard accommodations to ocean transportation, meals, beverages, and entertainment aboard the vessel.

Once your cruise is over you'll probably want to get some of the tropical sun home... easy to do: original tropical home decorating items can be found at http://www.art-ickles.com, which sells unique handicrafts brightly colored with tropical themes. Author Bio
Magalie Noel Dresse is the Webmaster of www.art-ickles.com, which sells unique handicrafts from the Caribbean island of Haiti. Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content