In November 2011, CNN reported that students who graduated from college in the past year did so with a record level of student loan debt – $25,250 per graduate. What is most worrisome is that this number is an average – meaning that while some students’ debt stayed below this amount, many carry debt far [...]

How to Pay Off Your Student Loans With Low-Interest Credit Cards is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

How would you like to receive 2% or more off of every purchase you make? That is just one example of what is being offered to credit card users in the form of rewards. Those who have come to realize the opportunities of credit card rewards have found that there are dozens of competing products. [...]

How to Compare the Best Credit Card Rewards Programs is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Whether you own a business, work for yourself, or just charge expenses that your company reimburses, you should use a business credit or charge card. You can use business credit cards to separate your personal expenses from those that you claim for your work. In addition, you can earn great rewards for using business credit and [...]

10 Best Small Business Credit Cards & Charge Cards is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Banks continue to compete against each other in an effort to attract customers with the best credit scores. In fact, credit card companies use sign-up bonuses to entice you to apply for their credit cards. A sign-up bonus consists of points or miles awarded after the first purchase, or awarded after a modest amount of [...]

5 Best Rewards Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus Offers, Deals & Promotions is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

The prospect of free travel is so alluring that an entire industry has sprung up around collecting frequent flyer miles. Hotels, rental car agencies, and of course credit cards all offer enticing programs. While many people enjoy exploiting these programs to their fullest potential, plenty of people become disaffected with mileage programs due to their [...]

How to Get Free Flights and Travel for Free is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Rebuilding your credit history when you have bad credit can be frustrating. You can’t get a credit card without a decent credit score, and conversely, you can’t improve your score without opening new accounts. The credit card industry markets many cards to people with bad credit, and to people trying to rebuild their credit. Some [...]

Best Secured Credit Cards for People with Bad Credit is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Having bad credit is a Catch-22. You need an active credit line to help rebuild your credit, but most lenders won’t extend you credit if you have a troubled financial past. In fact, most lenders set a credit score cutoff point and if you fall below it, you won’t qualify for any traditional credit card. [...]

What Is a Secured Credit Card – Pros & Cons for Rebuilding Credit is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

When people fall on hard times, they react to their new reality by taking a far more cautious approach to their personal finances, which includes turning towards other methods of payment for their daily spending. Although many people rely on credit cards, research points to decreased credit card use. The reasons why someone might discontinue [...]

Why Most Americans Should Not Use Credit Cards is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

When I was younger, I tried to close my unused credit card accounts to boost my credit score. I never carried a balance, but I thought if I had too many credit cards, I wouldn’t be eligible for new lines of credit. Years later, I discovered this belief was misguided, and that the truth was [...]

Does Closing a Credit Card Account Hurt Your Credit Score? is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Many students enter college armed only with credit cards provided by their parents. At some point during their studies, however, students may decide that they need their own credit cards. They can use credit cards to build good credit history in college, while also learning how to manage their own finances. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always [...]

10 Best Credit Cards for College Students is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Credit card rule number one: Pay on time and pay your balance in full if you can. When you avoid carrying a balance, you avoid paying interest. Most cardholders in the United States, however, can’t follow this rule. Paying on time is tough enough, and if you’re not careful about your spending, then paying in full [...]

10 Best Low APR Interest Credit Cards is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Rising gas prices have everyone talking about the best way to save money at the gas pump. One of the most effective methods is to find the right credit card to help you and your family save money on gas. In fact, you can save up to 5% on gasoline and other gas station purchases [...]

10 Best Gas Credit Cards with Cash Back Rewards is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

In spite of the dangers of excessive credit card use, we are still fortunate to have a very competitive credit card market that offers a nearly limitless choice of products. In fact, choosing the best credit card can be an overwhelming task. The key to finding the right one is to determine what kind of person you [...]

How to Choose a Credit Card That’s Right for You is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

I always use my credit cards when I am traveling internationally. They offer convenience, security, and protection that just isn’t available when using traveler’s checks or foreign currency. In addition, I receive generous cash back and travel rewards of 2% or more every time I use my credit card. Using a credit card when you [...]

7 Things to Consider When Using Credit Cards Overseas is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

The CARD Act of 2009 eliminated almost all of the traditional tricks and traps that banks used to employ to separate you from your money. However, one of the last remaining fees that banks are still allowed to charge is the foreign transaction fee. The foreign transaction fee is not a currency exchange commission. In [...]

How to Find Credit Cards Without Foreign Transaction Fees is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

If you are able to keep your expenses in check and use credit cards wisely, paying for your daily expenses with credit or debit cards is a no-brainer. Using plastic can greatly facilitate budgeting, since sites like Mint.com can automatically track your purchases, and you can also avoid unsafely carrying large sums of money for [...]

Difference Between Credit Cards vs Debit Cards – Which Is the Right Way to Go? is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Have you ever heard someone talk about how they use their credit card and just had to shake your head? Though the Internet is filled with good advice on how to use credit cards and rewards wisely, some people are just not getting the message. Of course, what’s really going on is they’re getting a [...]

How NOT to Use a Credit Card – 10 Uses You Should Avoid at All Costs is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Some of the first reward credit cards were the ones that offered frequent flyer miles. People just loved the idea of saving up points for an exciting vacation destination. But recently, severe restrictions on award seat availability have destroyed the dreams of so many who have saved their miles for a luxury vacation. While redeeming your credit [...]

8 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

When it comes to earning rewards on your credit cards, points and miles can be great, but nothing beats the value of cold, hard cash. As long as you always pay your balances in full and on time, and learn to use credit cards and rewards wisely, the only problem with cash back credit cards [...]

8 Best Cash Back Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

You’ve likely heard the horror stories of people who lost their jobs or faced another life-altering event that caused them to fall behind on their credit card payments. This usually results in plummeting credit scores, which can lead to the inability to buy a car, home, or other large-ticket item through financing. In addition, it can substantially increase [...]

Credit Card Protection Plans – Is This Debt Insurance Worth the Money? is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.