 |
|
|
|
Credit Card Checks and Cash Advances.
By: Thomas Hunter
Once you’ve got a credit card, you’ll find that you can do more with it than just pay for things with the card. You might be sent a credit card checkbook, for those times when you’re paying someone who can’t accept your card.
You might also be offered cash advances – a way of withdrawing cash directly from your credit card, either to your bank account or from a cash machine. This is designed for when you need cash in an emergency. You really shouldn’t overuse either of these features, and here’s why.
You Pay More Interest.
With most cards, checks and advances are charged at a much higher rate of interest than normal spending. You often give up any interest-free period (which can be up to two months), meaning that you start paying interest on the money literally from the minute you spend the money. Not only that, but most cards will also charge a fee each time you use cash advances or credit card checks – and using an ATM may increase the fee even further.
It Draws Attention to You.
When you use a credit card check or accept a cash advance, you’re showing that you’re not just using a credit card for convenience – you really need the money. This draws attention to you in the credit card company’s records as someone who shouldn’t be given a good deal. After all, you won’t be going anywhere.
Try to Spend With the Card Instead.
Instead of using cash to pay for small things and finding you have to take advances or use checks to pay for bigger things, it’s better to do it the other way around. If you’re in a situation where you’re relying on advances, you should start using your card for smaller things where you wouldn’t usually bother, just to avoid taking the advances and paying more interest. Be strategic in how you spend.
Remember that there are very few bills now that must be paid for by check, so there aren’t many reasons to ever use credit card checks. If you’re willing to call them up and wait on hold for a while, the chances are you can get them to accept a credit card payment just by you reading the number.
Look Out for Advance Limits.
If you start relying on cash advances, sooner or later you’ll probably run into an advance limit. The credit card companies don’t advertise it, but many of them have limits on how much of your balance can be cash advances and how much must be in purchases. Try to find out these limits before you start taking advances.
Remember They Get Left For Last.
When you pay back your credit card debt, most lenders will put your payments towards the lowest-interest money (your purchases) first, and then towards other lending. That means that you keep paying that high interest on the cash advance or check until you get your balance all the way down to zero.
Wake Up Richer Every Morning... Instant Internet Business Makes Money Automatically...
Thomas Hunter is an Internet marketer, author and publisher and has helped hundreds of people become successful Niche Marketers. Explore the highly profitable world of
Niche Marketing at http://SixFigureNiches.com our popular membership website.
If you have a website or ezine you may freely post this article on your site as long as you include the full resource box above. All links must be active / clickable with no syntax changes.
Additional Articles On: Credit Repair and Credit Cards
|
Premium Sponsors
Article Equalizer
Have you ever wished you could simply snap your fingers and content
that's specific to YOUR website subject matter magically appears?
30 Minute Articles
After years of writing articles the hard way, I've finally cracked the code to Fast, Easy and Painless article writing.
|