28
Jan
2011
Increased Credit Card Payments Helping You Keep Up
In the past, credit card payments have always been fair, a small percentage of the total balance owed. A new change has recently been proposed by the government that may change this. The monthly credit card payments that people are making may double within the next year. This will make things much harder for people who are already having a hard time making their existing payments.
How Much You Will Now Need To Pay
The credit card companies have made large profits by allowing people to make small payments on their credit card balances. The interest rate on credit cards has gone as high as 20%. At this rate, it can take a person years to pay off debts that are just a few thousand pounds. It does little good to make only the minimum payments on your credit card each month. Because the average American owes about 10,000 in credit card debt, their monthly payments are about 200. The new proposed law would push this amount to 400, including interest.
The law proposed by the federal government has been in existence for two years, but companies have been given a set period of time to comply with the law. It is expected that lenders will raise the payments to 4% before the end of this year. At first glance this may seem like a small amount, but it will dramatically increase the monthly payments of those who owe thousands of pounds. Many people have already begun filing for bankruptcy. You are probably wandering what you should do in a situation like this.
If You Cant Pay
The first thing you can do is stop using your credit cards. It doesn’t make much sense to keep using it when the minimum payments are about to be increased. After this you will want to begin cutting back on bills that will keep you from being able to make your monthly payments. If you have equity in your home, you will want to use it to consolidate your loans if possible. An unsecured personal loan can also be helpful. It may also be possible to get a lower interest rate from your bank.
Theres No Going Back Now
One thing you have to understand is that when the minimum payments increase, they are not likely to come back down. While this will allow some people to pay off their debts faster, many more people will not be able to pay off their loans, and will be forced to file bankruptcy. Some people believe that such a law will hurt the economy, because by raising the cost of the minimum payments you will decrease the purchasing power of the citizens.
Financial Freedom is the Key
It is best to get out of debt in anyway you can, or reduce your interest rates. If you don’t have a credit card, you may want to avoid getting one. You should sit down and be honest with yourself to decide if you’re responsible enough to manage one. If not, it is best to use cash. It has become more difficult to get out of debt than ever before, and this will not change in the future. It is important for you to take the steps today that can allow you to reduce your financial burden. You should stop using your credit card as soon as possible.
On a Personal Note Living In Never Never land
Many experts have argued that increasing the monthly payments on loans will help people and I for one must agree with that. Even at this increased amount consumers will be paying an exorbitant amount in interest and fees given the average balance of an Americans credit card statement. These high interest-charging credit cards have been sucking the money from many of us who are blissfully unaware of the financial damage that they are causing. Short-term financial strain in increasing these minimum payments may be the best long-term strategy to find the growing debt problem in the US. A change in attitudes by many of us would also be a start of a brighter financial future.
12
Nov
2010
21
May
2010
7 Simple Ways to Increase Your Credit Card Limit
Many credit card holders aspire for a higher credit card limit. The obvious reason for this is that a higher credit card limit enables the purchase of otherwise unaffordable merchandise.
First and foremost, credit card holders need to remember that to get a higher credit card limit, they must abide by the terms and conditions of the credit card company or bank.
Below are 7 other ways to get a higher credit card limit.
The most important thing to do for getting a higher credit card limit is to prove your credit worthiness. This is the first thing that banks and companies look for when giving a higher credit limit.
Attract positive attention from the credit card company or bank by paying finance charges once in a while. Obviously, this is not advisable on a repeating basis and should only be used as a last resort to increase your chances of getting a higher credit limit.
Proving to credit card companies and banks that you are good “borrower” can be a convincing way to get a higher credit limit. But be careful because this strategy also means that you will be paying finance charges which can accumulate in a hurry.
And always remember, a higher credit card limit means greater purchasing power, but it also increases the risk of your having to pay greater interest charges and other processing and late fees.
Always spend within your credit card limit because doing so means that you are capable of controlling your expenses.
Use your credit cards regularly. Dont keep your cards for emergency use only. If you use your credit cards sparingly, banks and credit card companies will be unable to understand your spending and pay-back behavior. Under these circumstances, most banks and credit card companies will be reluctant to give you a higher credit card limit.
Never make minimum payments. Instead, try to pay for the entire outstanding amount. This will usually give you a better chance of getting a higher credit card limit.
Avoid late payments as much as possible. Not only will your increase payment increase, but you may also have to pay an additional fine for not clearing bills on time. This will also dim your chances of getting a higher credit card limit.
The best and simplest strategy for getting a higher credit card limit is to use your credit card wisely. Always keep in mind that credit card companies keep a record of your transactions and payment patterns, so always pay on-time.
The bottom line is that your performance in the records of banks and credit card companies will determine whether youll get a higher credit card limit or not.