by Ralph Bennett
Is your debt piling up higher and higher? If it is, perhaps it’s time to consider debt consolidation, it could also be a good time to check out your junk mail. Begin paying attention to the fine print on those credit card offers flooding your mailbox. A low introductory rate on a new credit card could be just your ticket to reduce debt and save some cash.
Not infrequently, credit card offers will try to draw in new customers with an enticing interest rate for a limited time after signing up for the card and initiating a balance transfer. In lots of situations, the rate of interest will be as low as 0% APR. And, if you’re lucky, you can maintain this extraordinary rate for a year or more.
It’s possible to use this great introductory interest rate to your advantage, when the bills start piling up. Even if the interest rate is more than zero, a low introductory rate credit card can help you eliminate some of your debts and make bill paying tolerable.
Think about consolidating your debt onto your new credit card to save a few bucks and pay down your bill to a more controllable amount. You’ll be able to keep more of your money in your wallet if you transfer the balances from your higher rate credit cards. You can possibly eliminate all of them by paying off the balance during the introductory rate period. Remember, each dollar you pay is lowering the total amount due.
This is the trick to taking advantage of introductory rates on credit cards to dispose of as much debt as possible at the lower interest rate. Make a commitment to pay as much on your new credit card as possible each month. For example, if you rolled over the balance from three credit cards totaling $1000, this may slightly lower your monthly payment amount, but don’t just pay the minimum each month. If you can afford to pay more and still stick with your budget, you can save a lot of interest and future payments.
Debt elimination with this method can be practical, but complicated, so bear this in mind about credit card’s initial rates and closely read the terms and conditions. Certain credit cards offer the low rate for only a few months yet others may give you a year. Be sure to take the time limits into consideration so you can reduce the unpaid balance and you’re not stuck paying interest on the entire balance from the original debt transfer when time runs out.
If you contentiously work within of the terms and conditions of your new card, you can quickly revive your finances using a credit card with low introductory rates to get rid of debt. You may also discover that your bills become more manageable and, in no time, you’ll have money to indulge in a few extras.