Credit card guide - how to choose the right card for you/title> <meta name="keywords" content="plastic, visa, card, credit, mastercard, switch, charges, interest, rates, debt, fees, balance, transfers, bank, guide, help, money"> <meta name="description" content="Guide to credit cards - Choosing the right card for you."> <link href="../womg.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <script src="../tp.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="../cro/kclop.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <body bgcolor="#FEE9EB" text="#999999" vlink="#FFFFFF" alink="#FFFFFF" onLoad="MM_preloadImages('../starred20.jpg')"> <table border="0" class="tp"> <tr> <td colspan="3"><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk"><img src="../zzzzz/newtit41.gif" alt="take me home" width="250" height="64" border="0"></a></td> <td rowspan="2" class="htmp"><p class="subh">credit cards</p> <p>Choosing the right card for you</p></td> </tr> <tr> <FORM name="formSear" action="../search.php" method="GET"> <td 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class="tpgu"><span class="cmc"><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/credit_cards/" class="sh">Credit card basics</a></span></td> <td class="tpgu"><span class="cmc"><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/credit_cards/charges.htm" class="sh">Credit card fees & penalties</a></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tpgu"><span class="cmc"><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/credit_cards/choosing.htm" class="sh">Choosing the right card</a></span></td> <td class="tpgu"><span class="cmc"><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/credit_cards/balance.htm" class="sh">Balance transfers </a></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tpgu"><span class="cmc"><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/credit_cards/interest.htm" class="sh">Interest rates </a></span></td> <td class="tpgu"><span class="cmc"><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/credit_cards/abroad.htm" class="sh">Using your card abroad</a></span></td> </tr> </table> <table class="brk"> <td class="gry"></tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" class="gen"> <tr> <td class="chcs">Channels<td rowspan="7" class="cip"><table width="100%" border="0"> <tr> <td class="ccd">How to choose the right card for you</td> </tr> </table> <p>When choosing a credit card it’s important to think about what you'll actually be using it for. </p> <p>It’s surprising how many people use a card that doesn’t fit with their spending or repayment habits, and as a result end up paying more than they need for the privilege.</p> <p> A credit card is a useful tool if you make it work for you, but remember you can always save money in interest charges by finding a better deal.</p> <p>There are typically three kinds of credit card user and we will now look at each of them in turn.</p> <p><span class="hea">Those who fully clear their balance each month</span><br> For these individuals, the interest rate charged is irrelevant unless there’s no interest-free period, in which case you’ll pay interest regardless of how quickly you clear your balance. </p> <p>Many cards offer an interest-free period of up to 59 days from the date of the transaction, which gives you some breathing space before your payment’s due. </p> <p>Choose a card with no annual fee and decide whether you’d like to earn a reward or cash back, but ensure the scheme on offer gives you a worthwhile return on your spend. </p> <p>Both cash back and reward schemes come in all shapes and sizes and as a result some are more generous than others. </p> <p>One of the best ways to guarantee you’ll always clear your outstanding balance is to set-up a direct debit for the full amount each month.</p> <p><span class="hea">Those who usually clear their balance each month</span><br> In this situation it makes sense to choose a card that offers a low standard rate, that way interest charges for those months when it is applied aren’t too severe. </p> <p>Choose no annual fee, and if possible select a card with a reward or cash back scheme.</p> <p> It’s worth noting that these schemes are not always available on the cards with the lowest rates so do your calculations before you opt for one.</p> <p><span class="hea">Those who rarely or never clear their balance each month</span><br> If you’re regularly using your plastic and rarely or never repay the debt in full, your best bet is a card with an introductory purchase rate or an ultra low standard rate. </p> <p>Choosing a credit card with a low standard rate will help to save you money if you can’t be bothered shopping around when the introductory period expires.</p> <p> In addition, if you’ve built up a debt on your existing card then it’s time to consider switching to a credit card also offering a low balance transfer rate. </p> <p>There are plenty of cards offering ‘double deals’ - a low introductory rate combined with a low balance transfer rate (often 0% for both), although the duration of the offer will vary so it’s worth shopping around. </p> <p>Depending on the deals on offer, two separate cards for your purchases and balance transfers shouldn’t be ruled out. </p> <p>If you do opt for an introductory rate then you’ll need to change to a new low rate credit card once that deal ends, otherwise you’ll pay interest at the standard rate.</p><br> </td> <td rowspan="6" class="vpp"> </td> <td colspan="2" rowspan="6" class="csb"> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="adft"><div id="navm"> <ul id="navlist"> <li><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/beauty">Beauty</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/career_money">Career & Money</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/">Celebrity Men</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/travel/days_out/">Days Out</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/diet_fitness">Diet & Fitness</a></li> <li><a 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