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  • Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    It can be hard to build your credit. Credit cards come in so many varieties. How can you figure out which one is the best for you? To help you decide we’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best credit cards with no annual fees. These are some of the best credit cards you’ll find for building credit!

    Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Discover it Cashback Match Card

    This no-fee cashback card is an interesting one. You get one percent cashback on all purchases, which is standard for cashback. However, each quarter a new category of five percent cashback is in effect. For example, some quarters will have restaurants as a five percent category while others will have gas stations in that slot.

    While the quarterly bonus rewards are nice, the best part is the introductory period. For the first 14 months the card has zero interest! After that it reverts to between 13.49 percent and 24.49 percent APR.

    Citi Simplicity Card

    This straightforward no-fee credit card is great if you just want a simple card for daily use. It offers an 18-month period of zero interest and has no annual fees. To get accepted for the card it’s recommended that you have credit between 690 and 850. Overall, this card is a fantastic deal. On the downside, there are no rewards associated and the rates are somewhat high after the introductory period.

    That said, this card is worth it for the introductory period alone. No annual fees and no interest for 18 months is a hard deal to beat!

    Citi Double Cash Card

    This Citi card has no annual fees and is one of the best cashback cards you can get. It’s recommended you have between 690 and 850 for your credit score to get approved for the card. This card charges zero interest for the first 18 months, which makes it very attractive for new cardholders.

    The card gives you one percent cashback on all purchases. While it doesn’t have rotating cashback categories, you do get the awesome 18 months of no interest. Additionally, there is no limit on the amount of rewards you can receive. After the introductory period, the card reverts to between 14.99 percent to 24.99 percent APR.


  • Which Credit Cards are the Best for Someone with Bad Credit?

    Which Credit Cards are the Best for Someone with Bad Credit?

    If you have bad credit, it can feel next to impossible to dig your way out. It’s hard to get approved for loans, you have a hard time saving and getting ahead, and everything can feel like an uphill battle. When you’ve got bad credit, how can you right the ship and get yourself back on track?

    One of the best ways to rebuild bad credit is to get a credit card with low fees up front and that report on your credit to all three bureaus. Ideally, you want a card that offers pre-qualification checks, too. Today we’re going over how you can rebuild your credit, and what some of the best cards for doing so are.

    Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit

    Rebuilding Credit with a Credit Card

    When it comes to rebuilding your credit, your best bet is going to be operating on a very small scale. Set yourself a small budget, something you know you can easily pay off every month and put that on your card. Maybe just get gas, or just buy groceries with the card, and nothing else. Never float a balance past a month and make regular payments.

    While you’re doing this, keep an eye on your credit. Make sure the positive changes are being reported regularly and that your credit is moving in the right direction. This ensures that you’re doing the right thing and that your credit is being repaired.

    Applying for Cards

    Don’t look desperate by sending out a huge burst of credit card applications. This is a surefire way to put a big dent in your credit. Each time you apply for a credit card, a hard inquiry is placed on your credit, which can negatively impact it for as much as twelve months. Make sure you only apply for a few cards and consider going after pre-qualification cards.

    Pre-qualified cards do a soft inquiry of your credit, which allows you to avoid the issue of having your credit tanked by repeated inquiries. Once you get your card, you can begin rebuilding your credit with it, so the soft inquiry is well-worth the effort.

    Capital One Secured Mastercard

    The Capital One Secured Mastercard is a great pick for anyone looking to rebuild their credit. The card has no annual fee, and you can set down a small amount of money up-front for a credit line of $200. That’s enough for you to buy groceries on or buy gas, and then pay off before the end of the month.

    When you make enough payments on time, you’ll even get an increased credit line that allows you to put more expenses on the card. Not to mention, you get to pick your own due date for the money. That means you can set up your bills to hit when you get your paycheck, so you’re never late on your card payment!

    Milestone Gold Mastercard

    You can set this card up to pay off bi-monthly, allowing you to keep a tighter leash on your spending and help you get into good spending habits. The card doesn’t require a security deposit and it offers $0 cash advance fees the first year. In short, if you’ve got a prior bankruptcy on your credit history, this is a card worth looking in to. Just watch out for some of the minor fees, like for adding another authorized user or late payment fees.


  • How to Use a Credit Card to Repair Your Credit

    How to Use a Credit Card to Repair Your Credit

    If your credit score is less than ideal, you might be wondering what the best way to repair it is. While there are a number of ways to address your credit, one of the most surefire ways to pull it back into a favorable position is to use a credit card. This might sound counterintuitive if your credit score is already bad due to credit card debt, but hear us out.

    There are a few rules of thumb you need to follow with any credit card, but they go double for when you’re using them to repair your credit. Today we’re going over some of the basics to help you fix your credit standing. If you follow these tips you should see your score going up gradually, and in a few years you’ll have great credit!

    Remember, most of all, to be patient. Your credit score isn’t going to become excellent overnight, and requires you to work diligently at paying back your debts and paying bills on time to stay high.

    Paying Off Outstanding Debts

    Let’s begin with the most pressing issues. If you have a lot of outstanding debts that are dragging down your credit score, it’s time to hose them down. Let’s say you’ve got debts on three credit cards that are bearing down on you. Find the one with the highest interest rate and put any extra money you make towards paying it off. Make minimum payments on your other debts while you do this.

    By using this “target priority” technique, you can begin to chip away at the worst of your debt. This does two things for you. Firstly, it gets all that extra interest the debt would have accumulated out of the way. Secondly, it means your credit score will start to get repaired as your payments stay regular and your debt-to-income ratio evens out.

    Using a Small-Limit Card

    On the flip side, if you have no credit history or a bad credit history and don’t owe much in debt right now, you’ll want to use a credit card. For instance, let’s say you’re fresh out of college or school, you have a consistent job and you’re looking to get a car loan but have no credit history. Don’t sweat it! Just apply for a small-limit credit card with no annual fees and a low interest rate. Something really small, even with a limit of $100 or $200, works well here.

    Just use this card for small purchases, like buying groceries or getting food at a restaurant. Be careful to only spend what you can afford to pay back before the end of the month so that you don’t float any balance and accrue interest owed on it. After a few months of consistently using, and paying back, this small credit card, you’ll see your credit history start to build up.

    Good Spending Habits

    As another example, if you’re repairing your credit history after a rough patch, you can use a similar approach. However, with a bad credit history, as opposed to no credit history, it may seem difficult to find a credit card that seems like a decent deal. In such cases, even if you find a card with a high interest rate, consider using it just for making small purchases.

    Even if a card has a high interest rate and a low limit, using it consistently and simply paying it back before the end of the month can be a great way to show credit agencies you’re more responsible than you once were. By paying the bill off monthly, you’re able to both keep the interest from building up while also improving your credit score.


  • Learn How to Cash in on Amazing Rewards From These 4 Credit Cards

    Learn How to Cash in on Amazing Rewards From These 4 Credit Cards

    Saving money is incredibly important for any family. You want to be able to make the holidays memorable, but gift shopping gets expensive. That’s why it’s essential to explore all options to make the most of your money. One of the easiest ways to save money and get cash rewards is by getting a credit card. There are tons to choose from with all different types of rewards. That’s why we’re here to help.

    What Do You Want Most?

    Deciding what’s most important to you for your credit card is the first step to making the right choice. Do you want a credit card that will give you cashback on your most frequent purchases? Do you want a card that gives you frequent flyer points so that your next airplane ticket is discounted (or free?) Or do you enjoy staycations? Whatever you want to focus on there’s a credit card to match.

    You’re a world traveler

    Traveling new places is a great thing to be able to do. For some people it can be an expense they can’t quite afford though. That’s why it’s helpful to enlist your credit card company to foot the bill.

    The first place to start is with a broad credit card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The card offers double miles on all purchases and has a promotion where you can earn ten times the miles when staying at certain hotel brands. Importantly, there are no blackout dates with this card, and the points can be redeemed at any airline or hotel. There aren’t any expiration dates on your miles, and there’s no limit to how many you can earn. You can also transfer your miles across to other loyalty programs.

    Frequent Travel Pays Off

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a highly sought-after credit card for airline miles for a number of reasons. Firstly, the intro bonus is very generous. If you spend $4,000 through the card in the first three months of owning it, you get 60,000 bonus points. That translates to about $750 in travel rewards, which is a lot to earn just for using your credit card. You also get reimbursed for the $85 TSA precheck fee or $100 Global Entry fee. Add all this together and the card can easily pay for itself.

    Dining and Entertainment

    For those of you who don’t have the time to jet off to new locations, there’s a credit card to fit you too. The Capital One SavorOne card is the one for you. It will reward you with 3% cashback on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases. There’s no annual fee and you can earn a $150 bonus if you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Another great benefit is that your cashback rewards don’t expire. That way you can use them when you need them.

    Just Give Me the Cash

    If you don’t want a card with a fancy rewards system, but you wouldn’t mind a little cashback in your wallet, you aren’t alone. The Discover it Cash Back Card would be an excellent choice. With this card, Discover will match all the cashback you’ve earned at the end of the first year automatically. They also offer different killer deals each quarter. They choose a popular category and offer you 5% cashback (up to $1500.) Once you’ve hit that cap, which isn’t difficult, they then offer you 1% on all your purchases in that category.


  • Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    It can be hard to build your credit. Credit cards come in so many varieties. How can you figure out which one is the best for you? To help you decide we’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best credit cards with no annual fees. These are some of the best credit cards you’ll find for building credit!

    Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Discover it Cashback Match Card

    This no-fee cashback card is an interesting one. You get one percent cashback on all purchases, which is standard for cashback. However, each quarter a new category of five percent cashback is in effect. For example, some quarters will have restaurants as a five percent category while others will have gas stations in that slot.

    While the quarterly bonus rewards are nice, the best part is the introductory period. For the first 14 months the card has zero interest! After that it reverts to between 13.49 percent and 24.49 percent APR.

    Citi Simplicity Card

    This straightforward no-fee credit card is great if you just want a simple card for daily use. It offers an 18-month period of zero interest and has no annual fees. To get accepted for the card it’s recommended that you have credit between 690 and 850. Overall, this card is a fantastic deal. On the downside, there are no rewards associated and the rates are somewhat high after the introductory period.

    That said, this card is worth it for the introductory period alone. No annual fees and no interest for 18 months is a hard deal to beat!

    Citi Double Cash Card

    This Citi card has no annual fees and is one of the best cashback cards you can get. It’s recommended you have between 690 and 850 for your credit score to get approved for the card. This card charges zero interest for the first 18 months, which makes it very attractive for new cardholders.

    The card gives you one percent cashback on all purchases. While it doesn’t have rotating cashback categories, you do get the awesome 18 months of no interest. Additionally, there is no limit on the amount of rewards you can receive. After the introductory period, the card reverts to between 14.99 percent to 24.99 percent APR.


  • Learn How to Cash in on Amazing Rewards From These 4 Credit Cards

    Learn How to Cash in on Amazing Rewards From These 4 Credit Cards

    Saving money is incredibly important for any family. You want to be able to make the holidays memorable, but gift shopping gets expensive. That’s why it’s essential to explore all options to make the most of your money. One of the easiest ways to save money and get cash rewards is by getting a credit card. There are tons to choose from with all different types of rewards. That’s why we’re here to help.

    What Do You Want Most?

    Deciding what’s most important to you for your credit card is the first step to making the right choice. Do you want a credit card that will give you cashback on your most frequent purchases? Do you want a card that gives you frequent flyer points so that your next airplane ticket is discounted (or free?) Or do you enjoy staycations? Whatever you want to focus on there’s a credit card to match.

    You’re a world traveler

    Traveling new places is a great thing to be able to do. For some people it can be an expense they can’t quite afford though. That’s why it’s helpful to enlist your credit card company to foot the bill.

    The first place to start is with a broad credit card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The card offers double miles on all purchases and has a promotion where you can earn ten times the miles when staying at certain hotel brands. Importantly, there are no blackout dates with this card, and the points can be redeemed at any airline or hotel. There aren’t any expiration dates on your miles, and there’s no limit to how many you can earn. You can also transfer your miles across to other loyalty programs.

    Frequent Travel Pays Off

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a highly sought-after credit card for airline miles for a number of reasons. Firstly, the intro bonus is very generous. If you spend $4,000 through the card in the first three months of owning it, you get 60,000 bonus points. That translates to about $750 in travel rewards, which is a lot to earn just for using your credit card. You also get reimbursed for the $85 TSA precheck fee or $100 Global Entry fee. Add all this together and the card can easily pay for itself.

    Dining and Entertainment

    For those of you who don’t have the time to jet off to new locations, there’s a credit card to fit you too. The Capital One SavorOne card is the one for you. It will reward you with 3% cashback on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases. There’s no annual fee and you can earn a $150 bonus if you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Another great benefit is that your cashback rewards don’t expire. That way you can use them when you need them.
    Just Give Me the Cash

    If you don’t want a card with a fancy rewards system, but you wouldn’t mind a little cashback in your wallet, you aren’t alone. The Discover it Cash Back Card would be an excellent choice. With this card, Discover will match all the cashback you’ve earned at the end of the first year automatically. They also offer different killer deals each quarter. They choose a popular category and offer you 5% cashback (up to $1500.) Once you’ve hit that cap, which isn’t difficult, they then offer you 1% on all your purchases in that category.


  • How to Use a Credit Card to Repair Your Credit

    How to Use a Credit Card to Repair Your Credit

    If your credit score is less than ideal, you might be wondering what the best way to repair it is. While there are a number of ways to address your credit, one of the most surefire ways to pull it back into a favorable position is to use a credit card. This might sound counterintuitive if your credit score is already bad due to credit card debt, but hear us out.

    There are a few rules of thumb you need to follow with any credit card, but they go double for when you’re using them to repair your credit. Today we’re going over some of the basics to help you fix your credit standing. If you follow these tips you should see your score going up gradually, and in a few years you’ll have great credit!

    Remember, most of all, to be patient. Your credit score isn’t going to become excellent overnight, and requires you to work diligently at paying back your debts and paying bills on time to stay high.

    Paying Off Outstanding Debts

    Let’s begin with the most pressing issues. If you have a lot of outstanding debts that are dragging down your credit score, it’s time to hose them down. Let’s say you’ve got debts on three credit cards that are bearing down on you. Find the one with the highest interest rate and put any extra money you make towards paying it off. Make minimum payments on your other debts while you do this.

    By using this “target priority” technique, you can begin to chip away at the worst of your debt. This does two things for you. Firstly, it gets all that extra interest the debt would have accumulated out of the way. Secondly, it means your credit score will start to get repaired as your payments stay regular and your debt-to-income ratio evens out.

    Using a Small-Limit Card

    On the flip side, if you have no credit history or a bad credit history and don’t owe much in debt right now, you’ll want to use a credit card. For instance, let’s say you’re fresh out of college or school, you have a consistent job and you’re looking to get a car loan but have no credit history. Don’t sweat it! Just apply for a small-limit credit card with no annual fees and a low interest rate. Something really small, even with a limit of $100 or $200, works well here.

    Just use this card for small purchases, like buying groceries or getting food at a restaurant. Be careful to only spend what you can afford to pay back before the end of the month so that you don’t float any balance and accrue interest owed on it. After a few months of consistently using, and paying back, this small credit card, you’ll see your credit history start to build up.

    Good Spending Habits

    As another example, if you’re repairing your credit history after a rough patch, you can use a similar approach. However, with a bad credit history, as opposed to no credit history, it may seem difficult to find a credit card that seems like a decent deal. In such cases, even if you find a card with a high interest rate, consider using it just for making small purchases.

    Even if a card has a high interest rate and a low limit, using it consistently and simply paying it back before the end of the month can be a great way to show credit agencies you’re more responsible than you once were. By paying the bill off monthly, you’re able to both keep the interest from building up while also improving your credit score.


  • Which Airline Miles Credit Card is Right for You?

    Which Airline Miles Credit Card is Right for You?

    Frequent flyer miles. You hear about them all the time, any it seems that every company claims they offer the best rewards for frequent flyers. However, they can’t all be the best, right? Someone sits atop the heap, and someone is making stuff up. Today, we’re helping you cut through the noise to find the best credit card for frequent flyers.

    Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

    Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

    The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the first on our list, and it makes the list honestly: through its great options for frequent flyers. Notably, you get a whopping 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months as an intro bonus. That’s the equivalent of $500 in travel, just for spending your money like you normally would.

    The card offers double miles on all purchases, and has a promotion where you can earn ten times the miles when staying at certain hotel brands. Importantly, there are no blackout dates with this card, and the points can be redeemed at any airline or hotel. There aren’t any expiration dates on your miles, and there’s no limit to how many you can earn. You can also transfer your miles across to other loyalty programs.

    Chase Ink Business Preferred Card

    We’ve got another great intro bonus with this card: you get 80,000 points just for spending $5,000 with it in the first three months of having it. 80,000 points amounts to roughly $1,000 in travel rewards, so that’s a pretty sizable intro bonus! You also earn three points for every dollar on your first $150,000 spent on travel each year.

    Otherwise, you get one point per dollar on normal purchases. Excitingly, there’s no upper limit to the miles you can earn, making this is a great card for big-spenders! The points on this card have no expiration date, and you can use them as long as your account is open. There are also no foreign transaction fees, a great feature for any travel card.

    Discover it Miles

    The Discover it Miles card has a pretty substantial marketing push behind it, so you’ve certainly heard of this one. Well, we can confirm that it’s not all marketing hype: this is a pretty solid airline miles credit card. To start, the introductory offer sweetens the deal immensely. At the end of your first year with the card, Discover matches all of your miles. This essentially doubles all the miles you earn in your first year.

    The card also has no annual fees, a great plus for any credit card. It offers 1.5 times miles on all purchases, includes no blackout dates, and its points are redeemable at any airline or hotel chain. You also get a free credit scorecard, as well as a simple on and off toggle for freezing your account, should you lose the card.

    Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a highly sought-after credit card for airline miles for a number of reasons. Firstly, the intro bonus is very generous. If you spend $4,000 through the card in the first three months of owning it, you get 60,000 bonus points. That translates to about $750 in travel rewards, which is a lot to earn just for using your credit card.

    The card offers double points on dining at several restaurants, as well as on all travel expenses. Conversely, it offers one point per dollar on other types of purchases. There are no fees for foreign transactions with the Sapphire Preferred Card, and you can transfer your points to several high-profile travel loyalty programs. It’s easy to see why people love the Sapphire Preferred Card for travel, between all of its great features.


  • Which Credit Cards are the Best for Someone with Bad Credit?

    Which Credit Cards are the Best for Someone with Bad Credit?

    If you have bad credit, it can feel next to impossible to dig your way out. It’s hard to get approved for loans, you have a hard time saving and getting ahead, and everything can feel like an uphill battle. When you’ve got bad credit, how can you right the ship and get yourself back on track?

    One of the best ways to rebuild bad credit is to get a credit card with low fees up front and that report on your credit to all three bureaus. Ideally, you want a card that offers pre-qualification checks, too. Today we’re going over how you can rebuild your credit, and what some of the best cards for doing so are.

    Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit

    Rebuilding Credit with a Credit Card

    When it comes to rebuilding your credit, your best bet is going to be operating on a very small scale. Set yourself a small budget, something you know you can easily pay off every month and put that on your card. Maybe just get gas, or just buy groceries with the card, and nothing else. Never float a balance past a month and make regular payments.

    While you’re doing this, keep an eye on your credit. Make sure the positive changes are being reported regularly and that your credit is moving in the right direction. This ensures that you’re doing the right thing and that your credit is being repaired.

    Applying for Cards

    Don’t look desperate by sending out a huge burst of credit card applications. This is a surefire way to put a big dent in your credit. Each time you apply for a credit card, a hard inquiry is placed on your credit, which can negatively impact it for as much as twelve months. Make sure you only apply for a few cards and consider going after pre-qualification cards.

    Pre-qualified cards do a soft inquiry of your credit, which allows you to avoid the issue of having your credit tanked by repeated inquiries. Once you get your card, you can begin rebuilding your credit with it, so the soft inquiry is well-worth the effort.

    Capital One Secured Mastercard

    The Capital One Secured Mastercard is a great pick for anyone looking to rebuild their credit. The card has no annual fee, and you can set down a small amount of money up-front for a credit line of $200. That’s enough for you to buy groceries on or buy gas, and then pay off before the end of the month.

    When you make enough payments on time, you’ll even get an increased credit line that allows you to put more expenses on the card. Not to mention, you get to pick your own due date for the money. That means you can set up your bills to hit when you get your paycheck, so you’re never late on your card payment!

    Milestone Gold Mastercard

    You can set this card up to pay off bi-monthly, allowing you to keep a tighter leash on your spending and help you get into good spending habits. The card doesn’t require a security deposit and it offers $0 cash advance fees the first year. In short, if you’ve got a prior bankruptcy on your credit history, this is a card worth looking in to. Just watch out for some of the minor fees, like for adding another authorized user or late payment fees.


  • Best Credit Cards for 2019

    Best Credit Cards for 2019

    Whether you’re looking for a great rewards card or just something to cover some basic bills with, credit cards can be a great resource. As long as you’re making sure to pay off your monthly balance and never borrow more money than you have, you’re building your credit while potentially reaping rewards.

    It’s hard to tell which credit card is the right one for you, though. Today, we’re breaking down some of the best credit cards available in 2019. These are the top picks for getting rewards, covering bills or just growing your credit!

    Best Credit Cards for 2019

    Best Simple Card: Wells Fargo Platinum Visa Card

    This card is great for one reason. You get 18 months of zero percent APR. That’s a huge deal if you just need a simple, straightforward card for playing bills. This card also sports no annual fee, meaning it’s a very easy card to maintain. As long as you’re using it and paying off the bill, it’s worth the convenience of having a credit card.

    Best for Rewards Points: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a great value for travelers. After signing up, if you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months, you get a whopping 60,000 bonus points. On top of that, you get double the points on travel and dining. If you travel often and love cards with rewards points, consider this Chase card.

    Best Cash Back: Chase Unlimited Freedom

    The Chase Unlimited Freedom card is a very flexible cashback card. You get cash back on literally every purchase: you get 3% cashback on every purchase in the first year, up to $20,000 spent. After that you get 1.5% back on every purchase.

    That goes with this card’s lack of an annual fee and relatively low APR to make it a great cashback card. If you’re often out spending on various things, this is a great card for you.

    Best for Travelers: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

    The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is perfect for travelers. You get ten times the miles on eligible hotels, of which there are thousands. The $95 annual fee is waived for your first year, and you get 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of owning the card.