Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Credit Card Use and Reviews

Credit cards can be a gateway to debt but can also be a powerful personal finance tool. See articles that will teach you about credit cards,keep you up to date on credit card rules, show you the best credit cards, as well as show you reviews.

Bad Credit? Rebuild it With These Secured Credit Card Offers

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One of the fastest ways to build up your credit is to use a credit card.

However, if you have little or no credit history, flat-out bad credit, or if you have a poor credit rating, it can be difficult to qualify for an unsecured credit card (unsecured means you don’t have to have any money put away as insurance, or collateral, for any purchases you make — it’s what most credit cards are).

Creditors have stepped up their lending standards, and you might not have such an easy time getting a credit card that isn’t secured by some type of asset.
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Blue Sky from American Express® – A Great Way to Make Your Travel Spending Go Further | Review

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Are you looking for a travel rewards/airline miles card but hate the idea of all those blackout dates and weird restrictions?

The Blue Sky from American Express® credit card just may be the answer… and they’re currently offering a decent welcome bonus of 7,500 points (redeemable for up to a $100 statement credit).  Charge $1,000 on the card in the first three months of card membership and the points are yours.

Join us as we review the Blue Sky by American Express®.

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Citi Simplicity® Card Review – No Late Fees or Penalty Rate Hikes

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Would you like a credit card with no late fees, no annual fee, no penalty rates hikes, and more?

Take a look at the Citi Simplicity® Card!

In this review I’ll show you the basics of what this card is all about so you can see if it’s the right card for you.

Right off the bat you are getting a card with a very long 0% introductory and balance transfer APR rate (18 months).

If you have credit card debt on other cards, and the interest rate is weighing you down, transferring your debt to a card like this can really help you make a dent in your debt (assuming you will be paying off more than the minimum amount due, of course).

Transferring my debt to a 0% Intro APR card years ago helped me pay off my credit card debt faster.  You are able to make payments that go right to your principle rather than paying off your interest.  This lets you pay off more faster.

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Should You Break Up With Your Credit Card? When to Move On

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I’m a big believer in using credit cards to better your financial situation.

That means using your credit card like a debit card, not like a free flowing spigot of money.  There are too many benefits to using a credit card like a free month of float on your money and free warranty extensions on products you buy to ignore credit cards completely.

That isn’t to say that credit cards are risk-free.

Obviously, many people get trapped in credit card debt paying high interest rates with balances that take forever to pay off.  (Many times this is through their own choices of spending too much money on the card, but I digress.)

Just like any other tool credit cards can be used for both good and bad.

The choice on which is up to you.

Even if you aren’t up to your eyeballs in credit card debt there are times when it is just time to move on and decide this isn’t a good card for you.

3 Big Reasons to Break Up With Your Credit Card and Find a New Card

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The Best 0% Purchase Credit Cards of 2014

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A great way to save money and earn reward points is to use a 0% purchase credit card (note that these 0% rates are introductory).

These cards can be a great way to avoid paying interest while gaining credit card benefits, rewards, miles, or cash back.  Additionally, 0% purchase credit cards offer an opportunity for you to make a slightly larger purchase, and pay it off over time.

Another bonus is the fact that many of these credit cards also come with 0% balance transfer offers.

It’s important to understand, though, that 0% Introductory rate purchase credit cards should be used carefully, and with planning.

When used as part of a plan, o% Introductory rate purchase cards can give you the advantage of a great introductory rate, and the ability to rack up the points or miles.  And, because you have an introductory period, you can take two, three months, or longer to pay off a larger purchase.

Don’t Use the 0% Introductory Rate, or the Rewards, to Justify a Purchase

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