Credit Cards: Introduction

Filed Under » , , ,
By Brigitte Yuille

Are you thinking about making a purchase? Among the payment choices tucked away in a consumer’s a wallet is the credit card. Its popularity since its debut in the late 1950s has skyrocketed. Many people enjoy the convenience and protections it offers, such as the ability to defer payments and keep records of purchases. However, credit cards can either help to improve your lifestyle by offering convenient payment and helping you build credit, or they can leave you with a pile a of debt - it all depends on how you use them. Problems can be avoided but understanding the terms of the credit card agreement, spending wisely and selecting the appropriate card. Here we take an in-depth look at credit cards and provide useful information about how you can use one to your best advantage. (For background reading on the credit card industry, check out How Credit Cards Built A Plastic Empire.)


Next: Credit Cards: A Brief History »

by

Brigitte Yuille

Brigitte Yuille
Brigitte Yuille has worked in journalism for more than a decade in the areas of radio, online, print and television. Her personal finance articles have been published in newspapers, such as the New Jersey Star-Ledger and the South Florida Business Journal and online at AOL, Bankrate, Inc., MSN and Yahoo. She’s also served as an editor for Florida Society of Association trade publications. Ms. Yuille has a Master of Science degree in communication with an emphasis on business journalism from Florida International University.
Sponsored Links
Related Tutorials
Bank Rates
Product Today Last Wk
$10K MMA 0.50% 0.51%
MMA 0.45% 0.46%
6 Month CD 0.46% 0.47%
1 Year CD 0.70% 0.75%
5 Year CD 1.46% 1.46%
1 Year Jumbo CD 0.66% 0.67%
Rate data provided by Bankrate
Product Today Last Wk
$30K HELOC 4.59% 4.60%
$30K Home Equity Loan 5.74% 5.77%
$50K Home Equity Loan 5.45% 5.50%
$50K HELOC 4.24% 4.24%
$100K Home Equity Loan 5.41% 5.46%
$100K HELOC 4.13% 4.13%
Rate data provided by Bankrate
Product Today Last Wk
30 Year Fixed 3.80% 3.80%
15 Year Fixed 3.09% 3.11%
1 Year ARM 3.54% 3.53%
30 Year Fixed Jumbo 4.38% 4.38%
5/1 ARM 2.65% 2.69%
3/1 ARM 2.69% 2.69%
Rate data provided by Bankrate
Product Today Last Wk
60 Month Used Car Loan 4.51% 4.51%
48 Month Used Car Loan 4.35% 4.35%
48 Month New Car Loan 3.24% 3.24%
36 Month Used Car Loan 4.34% 4.36%
36 Month New Car Loan 3.11% 3.13%
60 Month New Car Loan 3.35% 3.34%
Rate data provided by Bankrate
Partner Links