Knowing what credit card to choose can be over whelming, the number of credit cards on offer can distract you from your original goals when considering a new credit card but if you know what to look out for then you can save money with your credit card. Following some of these credit card tips can save you from excessive fess, charges and interest rates and will guide you to finding the right credit card offer for your particular needs.

Cash advances cost more!
when you use you credit card for Cash advances a higher interest rate applies to the transaction and there are no interest free days. Some credit cards will wipe all your interest free days remaining on previous purchases and start charging interest. All you debt will incur interest charges and you won’t receive more interest free days until the all your debt is repaid.

Lower interest rates save you more!
You can save hundreds on interest charges every year if you have a lower interest rate credit card . Use our credit card charts or credit card interest calculator to see the difference between what interest charges are applied to with differing debt balances and interest rates.

Using a balance transfer
When you want to switch credit cards you can get a break on interest charges for a certain amount of time, balance transfers offer low to no interest charges on your card debt for a period of months. Use this time to repay the whole amount and you will get ahead on your repayments. You can’t use your credit card until the debt is repaid otherwise in some cases a cash advance interest rate will be applied and you wont receive the intended interest break.

Pay more than the minimum repayments
Just paying the minimum amount off your credit card each month will not reduce your debt very quickly, you will mostly be just paying off interest. You could transfer the debt to a low interest rate personal loan if you are having some trouble meeting you financial obligations. Its best to repay your credit card balance in full every month if you can otherwise minimize interest charges with a lower interest credit card.

Review your credit card statements
Check your credit card statements each month and look for payments made that your were not aware of. I could be a case of credit fraud when someone is using your credit card details to make purchases. If you see anything out of the ordinary you must notify your bank immediately other wise you will be paying for the debt.

Do Rewards appeal to you
If you want rewards from your credit card you must spend enough to gain rewards. The interest rates and fees on these credit cards are a lot higher than with low rate credit cards. If you can funnel your expenses through a rewards card and meet the repayment regularly then you can benefit from reward points in the form of shopping vouchers or frequent flying miles, just watch out for interest rate charges eating up the reward benefits in the first place.

Choose credit cards that suit you’re repayment habits
Knowing what your spending and repayment habits are going to be with your credit card, you can benefit from the right credit card features. If you don’t repay your credit card debt in full every month or when the interest free period is up then low interest rate credit cards are for you. If you do repay the full amount off your credit card and annual fees don’t trouble you, you can benefit from rewards, frequent flyer or premium service credit card features.

Use Credit Card Fee discounts
some credit card lenders offer you discount on credit card fees when you combine financial services from that lender. If you already have a home loan, personal loan or savings account, applying for a credit card with your bank can reduce fees, you might even have no fees. Check to see if your lender does offer these incentives with there credit cards services.

Avoid late payments penalties
If you don’t meet the minimum credit card repayments on time the you could be charge a dishonesty fee for the late payment. Plus you could loose any interest free days owing on your credit purchases. If you having trouble meeting credit card repayment find another financial solution like a balance transfer, don’t just hide and let it happen.

Non banks offer great credit card deals too
Smaller banks, building societies and credit unions offer some great credit card deals that are just as good as the major Australian banks. They increase competition in the credit card lending sector and bring downward pressure on credit card fees, charges and interest rates. They are very dependable and should not be overlooked when choosing a credit card.

One of Australia’s most trusted financial providers St. George has an award-winning credit card for cost-conscious consumer called Vertigo.

Vertigo from St. George Voted Australia’s Cheapest Credit Card by Money Magazine in 2007 and 2008, St.George Vertigo Mastercard provides a great personal interest rate and a competitive low fee.

Any purchase your make with a St.George Vertigo Mastercard has a 55 day interest free period before a low interest rate of 11.74% is charged against your balance. It has a very low credit card fee of $55 per annum which rates amongst the lowest in all the credit cards available.

If you like to share your credit card with a family member, St.George offer a second credit card attached to the very same account for free.

With a no interest on balance transfers for 6 months, this credit card is perfect to transfer your current credit cards balance to help you manage your current credit card debt.

If you like getting benefits with your credit card, St.George Vertigo Mastercard offers discounts and added extras on Entertainment, Experiences, Shopping, Travel and Leisure, Wine and Magazine Subscriptions. This is a very special credit card because it has a low interest rate but still offers benefits usually found in more expensive rewards credit cards.

St.George is another lender which isn’t one of the big for banks in Australia; they are increasing competition in the credit card sector in which all Australians benefit from. Best Rate Credit Cards rates the St.George Vertigo Mastercard 5 stars.

Applying for your St. George Vertigo MasterCard is quick and easy with our secure application link. You must be at least 18 years of age to apply and have a valid driver’s license number, and proof of income. Applications are quick with an instant application response, so you can start enjoying your new card sooner.

Depending on your credit usage, you should be responsible with your credit card purchases and repay the money you borrow preferably in a timely manner. As with most things a repayment plan is required for controlling your finances while borrowing money. Our repayment calculator is a free online tool that enables you to create a repayment plan for your credit card or even other debts by simply filling out some values.

You borrow, you repay is the way most loans work, but the interest that’s charged to credit cards is compounded every day meaning you have to factor in more money to repay than you borrowed.

To work out you’re repayment plan you need to consider how much you can easily repay per week, this will enable you to focus on reducing your credit card debt and the amount of interest you will end up paying.

When using our credit card repayment calculator, fill out the amount borrowed and the interest being charged, this will calculate the terms of your transaction and the amount your specify for repayments will determine how long it will take you to fully repay.

Example

• $3000 Borrowed
• 19.99% Interest
• $300 monthly repayments

You’re repayment plan will look like this:

Credit Card Repayment Planning Calculator

In this scenario, you will on average pay $28.55 per month in interest, It will take you 12 months to fully repay, Total interest you will be charged is $342.58 making the total amount repayable $3342. Please not that this calculation does not include fees and charges plus there might be a slight variation in the interest calculations which will alter the outcome.

Try the credit card repayment calculator and start controlling your debt.

If you are concerned with the amount you have to repay, you could consider a balance transfer or lowering your interest rate to ease the repayments, you can test this out by altering the values in the calculator. See how much you could save with a better interest rate or initial period balance transfer.