Balance Transfer - This card is not like the other.
As another way to get your business, many card issuers offer
balance transfers. This can give you some leverage as a consumer
and a opportunity to save some interest. Most credit cards offer
a 0% APR for 6 to 12 months with no transfer fees. This is
sometimes referred to as the teaser rate.
A balance transfer can be a good way for a you to consolidate
debt. You can take your outstanding balance on one or two or
more cards and transfer it to a card with a lower rate. Once
approved, you would have all your payables on one credit card
and essentially had taken two or more interest rates and
transformed them into one lower rate.
If you want to carry on a balance, look for the credit card
that offers the best interest rate or the annual fee offer.
However, if you intend to pay for the credit every month, then
look on the one that offers the lowest interest rate. Take note
of the new rate after the introductory offer is over. Is it
going to higher than what your have now? Are there any other
fees involved? Make sure. Also does the introductory offer apply
to balance transfers and purchases?
You can choose the credit card that offers the lowest annual
percentage rate (APR). APR's could either be a "fixed" or a
"variable" rate. Fixed rates do not change as the name implies
but is higher. Variable rates changes depending on the economic
trends. I usually avoid anything that's variable but you should
explore your own options carefully. This is to be taken into
consideration if you're deciding on carrying a balance and for
how long.
Other factors involved in your decision for a balance transfer
might be the rewards (reward points)or cash back a card offers.
You may want to look into something you purchase often, like
airline miles or gas rebates if you drive more than usual. Other
cards even offer cash back for paying home utilities and
mortgage, like the Citi