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I’d say the hardest thing about getting out of credit card debt is figuring out where to start. Which credit card do I pay off first? Should I break up payments to all the cards? Should I send a lump sum to one card? There are so many decisions to make, it’s easier just to put it off.

I like to start by figuring out how much I can afford to send every month then writing my credit cards down in the order I want to pay them. Read Two Credit Card Payback Methods That Work to learn how make your own credit card payment plan. There’s even a printable worksheet you can use make your plan.

Tags: Cards

We’ve watched the quick rise and fall of the Kardashian Kard, a prepaid credit card that was promoted by the Kardashian sisters, only to be pulled from the market after a few short weeks. So why was this card considered  to be predatory, and even when dealing with legitimate credit products, is it ever a good idea to allow type of card–or even a standard credit card–to be used by children? If so, how young is too young?

Why the Kardashian Kard Was Considered Predatory

The Kardashian Kard was a prepaid card that was expected to gain fast popularity among a younger demographic . However, before it could take off, it was quickly pulled from the market.

One reason was because parents did not like that it came with excessive fees. It cost $10 to purchase and $7.95 a month in usage fees, not to mention a reload fee and additional transaction charges. In comparison to other prepaid cards, which usually average $4.95 to purchase and around the same price to reload, it was a bit much.

The cost was not the only complaint critics had, however. Some did not like the “predatory” nature of the card. Because th

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Tags: Credit, Credit Plastic

Cash back rewards cards can be a great way to save money and reduce the amount of debt generated by credit card usage. However, choosing the right cash back rewards program, and making the most of the rewards system, is not always as easy as it seems. Each credit card has different terms that govern the program, making it imperative to review the fine print and consider the following tips in order to maximize the benefits of a cash back rewards card.

Understanding Rewards Terms

Perhaps the most important aspect of a cash back rewards card is the cash back percentage, also known as the rebate percentage. Most cards offer 1% to 2% cash back on every purchase made with the card, but this rebate percentage isn’t applied until a certain amount of money has been spent. Fortunately, it’s possible to find that threshold amount by reviewing the card’s terms prior to applying. Most cash back rewards cards also offer higher rebate percentages for specific types of purchases. For example, the card may offer 5% cash back on all gas, grocery, or online purchases. Under

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Tags: Back Rewards, Back Rewards Card, Card, Rewards Card

Q: I want to redeem my American Express rewards, but I don’t know how to do this. Help!

A: If you have an American Express card that has a rewards program, once you have accrued enough points, you can redeem them. This is as easy as going to this website.

Once you have logged on to your account, you simply follow the steps to redeem your points. These steps include selecting the membership reward you wish to redeem points for. If you are not already registered, you can access the website and it will help you take care of this process.

The number for local redemption only is 1-800-299-1977.

If you are overseas and need to redeem points, you will need to call +65, then follow that by a “6.” Dial the “6” before you dial the rest of the phone number. Local callers need only to dial 1-800-299-1977.

Remember that American Express has several different cards. You will need to know which card you have before starting the redemption process. Look on the front if you are not sure.

You may also want to look on the back of your credit card. This can give you the phone number of that particular card. This way,

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Tags: American Express, American Express Rewards, Express Rewards, Rewards

Credit scores are used in nearly every industry to determine the financial stability of a person or business. There are two main types of credit scores – PLUS and FICO – with the latter being the most commonly used. Credit reports are issued once every three months by the three major credit reporting agencies, although the credit score itself is updated on a monthly basis. Maintaining a good credit score is the key to gaining approval for credit cards, mortgages, vehicle loans, and any other form of financial assistance.

How is the FICO Credit Score Calculated?

The FICO credit score is calculated based on five main factors – payment history (affects 35% of the credit score), amount owed (affects 30%), credit history length (affects 15%), new credit (affects 10%), and types of credit used (affects 10%). Each of these factors is split into a plethora of subsections that contribute to the overall score. A major part of the amounts owed factor that is incredibly influential towards the credit score is credit utilization, which affects 20% of the credit score. The f

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Tags: Credit Scores, Scores