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| Shopping for a Credit Card |
 Essentially, consumers, who do not pay the full balance of their credit bill each month, should shop for a low APR. Before signing up for any credit card, review the various terms of the APR and do not forget to evaluate and itemize other potential fees:
• Annual fees
• Minimum finance charge
• Transaction fee for cash advances
• Penalty rate
• Late-payment fee
• Over-the-credit-limit fee
• Transfer a Credit Card Balance
Ideally, the ultimate credit card transfer does not carry an initial interest rate. Since the APRs of most balance transfers are introductory rates, it’s best to start off with a 0 percent interest rate. Most credit card companies will charge a fee for making the credit card transfer. The fee should be approximately $30 for every $1,000 or three percent of the transfer amount.
If you plan to make transfers of $3000 or more, shop for credit cards with caps on the transfer fee. For instance, certain credit card companies will charge a total fee of $75. Remember that a balance transfer should not negatively impact your credit score but the cost of an exorbitant interest rate will cost more in the long run.
 Save Money
Credit cards represent significant discounts in products, services and travel. To ensure the best savings, credit cards with a low APR and no annual fee are optimal. Consumers may choose between a credit card that starts off with a low APR or one with a long-term low interest rate. A long-term low interest rate can offer consumers a little security that their credit card bill be manageable if they experience an unforeseen financial situation.
But consumers should review the fine print of the credit card, because many companies have disclaimers that allow them to change an APR without much warning. Generally, consumers can contact their credit card company to bargain for a lower APR – but it depends on the cardholder’s payment history. Depending on a cardholder’s needs, credit card companies such as Chase’s Platinum Visa save their customer’s money on car rentals, travel insurance, and other nifty products and services. (Credit cards with shopping rewards usually carry a higher APR).
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