How To Pick The Perfect Credit Card: What To Consider

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There are a ton of to choose from, each offering its own benefits and drawbacks. Sometimes it can feel like you're comparing apples to oranges, so trying to find the best one for 정보이용료 현금화 your unique situation isn't always easy. As  and purges our wallets, it's more important than ever to get the most out of your credit card -- and avoid pitfalls in
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s.Different credit cards can offer , welcome bonuses, financing opportunities, purchase protections, , annual statement credits and more. But they also can easily get you into debt, tank your credit score and subject you to paying thousands of dollars in interest. When you're choosing a card, it's important to evaluate your risk tolerance and be aware of your spending behavior and your b
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/p>Below we lay out some details to help you access the world of credit cards, starting with defining your financ
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Know what you want your credit car
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h2>If you're trying to keep the number of credit cards in your wallet manageable while still taking advantage of perks, you'll need to prioritize. Here are some of the common financial goals people want to see with their cre
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 Improve or build your
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h3>One of the basic rules of the American financial system is that having a can help you open many doors -- but bad credit can close them, too. If you're considering buying a house or a car, having will help you get the best loan terms, which means your loan could be less expensive overall. If you're planning to rent an apartment, apply for a new job or get a cellphone contract, your credit score may be the difference between getting approved
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Having an open credit card account on your and using it frequently in a calculated way -- paying your bill on time every month and using less than one third of your available credit -- is a sure
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/p>There are cards designed specifically for those with or . These cards may have less frills than rewards credit cards, but they can help you build your credit so that you can qualify for better features in the
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/p>Alternatively, are available for people with credit problems. You submit a security deposit as collateral, which will amount to your available credit. After a few months of responsible use, some secured cards allow you to "graduate" to a traditional credit card and get your d
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k.Save money on everyday pu
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h3>If your goal is to stretch your budget, a  -- which can earn you cash back, points or miles -- is the way to go. These cards give you a small percentage back on every purchase you make. For example, the offers at least 1.5% cash back on every p
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/p>Meanwhile, some cards offer multiple categories for earning elevated rewards rates. Others, like the *, may offer rewards categories that change over time. Rewards categories may emphasize different parts of the average budget, such as , , and more. Some people even mix and match several cards throughout their regular spending to get the highest rewards rates on each
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n.Fund your ne
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h3>As pushes prices higher, the costs of travel increase, which includes airfares and hotel rooms. A can help you save on your next trip and allow you to earn points or miles on every purchase you make, often with elevated rewards on travel purc
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/p>Some of the best also offer benefits to enhance your travel experience, like access to airport lounges, priority boarding, free checked baggage or late hotel checkout. If you're a brand loyalist, you can get even more specific -- and often higher value -- rewards with a or . These can net you free night stays at the hotel chain and discounts on in-flight purchases, respectively, as well as
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s.Finance a large purchase or consolida
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h3>Some credit cards offer zero-interest introductory promotions for a period of time, usually between 12 and 18 months, giving cardholders the flexibility to pay for purchases during that window without incurring interest -- as long as the minimum payment is made on time each month. An can help you finance a large or unexpected expense, from a new computer to a minor remodelin
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For example, if you were to apply for the card, which offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (16.49% to 25.24% variable APR thereafter), you can split up your payments over that time frame without racking up interest -- as long as you make the minimum payments before the due date. So if you were to purchase a $2,000 computer during your first month, you would have the remaining 14 months to pay off the computer without accruing interest. Spreading the payments out evenly over that time period, you would owe roughly $145 per month to pay the computer off in
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/p>The key is to budget your purchase and pay installments before the introductory zero-interest promotion lapses -- and make sure the whole amount is paid before the promotion ends. Otherwise, you'll have to pay interest on any remaining balance on the
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/p>In the case of the Chase Freedom Unlimited, any balance left on the card beyond the initial promotional period will be subject to a 16.49% to 25.24% variable APR, depending on your credit. Credit cards notoriously charge high interest rates, so we recommend not leaving a balance you ca
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/p>If you're looking to consolidate debt on high-interest credit cards, you can move your balances onto a  that offers a similar 0% introductory APR. This will allow you some interest-free breathing room during a promotional period so you can more easily >.Capitalize on welcome
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h3>One of the best ways to rack up points or cash back is to apply for a new credit card with a generous . In order to earn the bonus, you typically have to spend a certain amount of money on the card within the first months after you get approved for the card, usually between three and six
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/p>For example, with the , you earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 within the first three months of opening your account. Welcome bonuses and their spending thresholds vary widely across credit card types. Typically, cards with higher annual fees offer more valuable wel
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br>.Before jumping on the juiciest sign-up bonus you can find, check your monthly spending and make sure that you'll be able to meet the threshold without overspending. You don't want to go into debt to earn a
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nus.Consider an
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As you look for credit card options, one important aspect you should consider carefully is the annual fee. Many great . Other cards, however, do charge annual fees -- some can be hundreds of dollars. You'll want to make sure you can afford the annual fee and that the card will offer you enough value over the course of the year
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To help you break it down, we suggest you create a list of the monetary value of the benefits compared to the annual fee to help see if you'll come out ahead, break even or potentially even lose money. You'll want to have a good understanding of before you sit down to make
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ons.Look for benefits that go deeper tha
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Search beyond the cash back or points and spend some time learning about the credit card's benefits. Some of these extra perks and benefits alone might make a particular card compelling. You'll have to check the fine print to know exactly what your credit card
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�Rental car insurance. Some cards offer primary rental car insurance, which means the card company will cover you in the event the rental is damaged or stolen. Other cards only offer secondary rental car insurance, meaning the company will cover anything not covered by your own car insurance. In either case, you can skip the car rental insurance offered for an additional charge by the

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.Trip cancellation or interruption insurance. If your trip gets canceled or you have to interrupt it for an eligible reason, your credit card may reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses purchased with the same card up to a specific amount, such as your flight or hotel
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ions.ion">You can get extra perks with some credit cards w
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gure>Purchase protection. Some credit cards will cover any purchases made with the card that get accidentally damaged, stolen or lost. Purchase protection reimbursement amounts vary from card to card, and they usually come with a fair amount of restrictions a

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.Extended warranty. Cards that offer this benefit usually extend the life of the warranty of purchases made with the card. Similar to purchase protection, this benefit usually comes with multiple exclusions and restrictions, so make sure to read the fine print when shoppin

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.Cellphone insurance. If your phone dies, breaks or gets stolen, your credit card might cover its repair or replacement as long as you pay your cellphone bill with the card. Cellphone insurance usually is based on a certain coverage amount per claim or a maximum per year, with a cap on the number of claims you can file per year. However, this benefit might help you save money by not having to pay for cellphone insurance through your m

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.Secure shopping. With and data breaches on the rise, credit cards offer several ways to protect your data when you shop, either in-store or online. The easiest way to shop more securely with your credit card at brick-and-mortar stores is by using the contactless option, which is now widely available in the US. When you "tap" to pay, your credit card creates a one-time code that transmits your card number to the payment terminal, making it very difficult for the personal information on your car
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Virtual card numbers. As physical credit cards have become more secure, online credit . Entering your credit card information online, especially on websites you're not familiar with, can b
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�To mitigate risk, you can use a virtual credit card number. Some credit card issuers give you the option to create virtual numbers for your physical credit cards, which can be used online. create a placeholder number in lieu of your card's actual number that can typically be used just once
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xpire.Stay safe when using a cr
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One way to prevent identity theft is to . All three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, offer the ability to freeze your credit for free. Freezing your credit report will prevent anyone from opening a new credit account in your name or accessing your credit report. It's a great way to ensure no one can stick you with a bill that's not yours, but there's a tr
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�Every time you apply for a new credit account -- from a credit card to a mortgage or a  -- you'd have to temporarily unfreeze your credit until your application has been processed. You'll have to do this for each credit bureau, but the process is surprisingly quick and can
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.If you're that offers your ideal benefits, you may have to start small and work your way up to earning better rewards and perks. For more advice on how to , consider this to help grow yo
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.*All information about the Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by
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.>The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by o
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