PUBLISHED: 10:28 25 January 2019 Peter Sharkey The post-Christmas credit card bill could be arriving now for millions of people around the country. Picture: Getty Images Mark Bowden Older homeowners have a solution for credit card quandary, says our financial columnist Peter Sharkey. Unless you bank online, that worryingly dull thud you’ve heard frequently in the porch recently is, quite possibly, written confirmation of your festive season expenditure. If you happen to bank online, the same information is usually accompanied by a jolly ‘ding-dong’, though the detail attached to the incoming email is equally unwelcome. Yes, it’s that time again: mountains of credit card bills have started arriving in homes across the land, each detailing seasonal generosity in a series of glaring, unforgiving statements. Did you really buy that expensive [insert purchase details] item for [insert name] and receive just a bottle of cheap white wine … [Read more...] about How to solve your credit card anxieties
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Sainsbury’s launches 0% credit card that lets you earn a bonus 7,500 Nectar points worth £38
SAINSBURY'S has just launched a credit card with no interest for 28 months that also lets you earn a bonus of 7,500 Nectar points. It comes with no annual fee and an interest free period of 28 months, but you'll have to pay a four per cent fee if you want to transfer money. After 28 months, Sainsbury's Dual Offer Credit Card increases to a typical annual percentage rate (APR) of 20.9 per cent and a purchase rate of 20.95 per cent, so it's important that you clear the debt in full before the interest free period ends. If you're unable to pay it all off on time, you could shift it to another 0 per cent balance transfer card beforehand - you can find the best cards of this kind here. Like most Sainsbury’s cards, you’ll earn Nectar points when you spend on the card: two for every £1 spent on Sainsbury's shopping or fuel and one point per £5 spent everywhere else. Even better, the combined purchase and balance transfer card comes with a bonus Nectar offer worth up to … [Read more...] about Sainsbury’s launches 0% credit card that lets you earn a bonus 7,500 Nectar points worth £38
Best 0% interest-free credit card for spending and purchases up to 28 months
LOOKING to make a big purchase in 2019? Then you should think about picking-up a 0 per cent purchase card. Used correctly a purchase credit card can help you spread the cost of a big-ticket item - like a new kitchen or holiday - without racking up hefty interest charges. The longest deals on the market now stretch to a whopping 28 months - giving you the chance to pay-off your debt in just over two years. The Sun Online has taken a look at some of the cards with the longest 0 per cent periods on the market but before we do, a word of warning. Always be responsible when it comes to spending on credit cards - try and clear your balance in full each month outside of a 0 per cent purchase period, otherwise you'll start paying interest on your balance. If you can't clear it each month, ideally you should try and pay more back than the minimum monthly payments, otherwise your debt will take longer and longer to clear. And never use cards to regularly cover gaps in your monthly income either, … [Read more...] about Best 0% interest-free credit card for spending and purchases up to 28 months
How save £300 off your store card balance by transferring to a 0% credit card
SHOPPERS can shave up to £300 off bills by switching their store card debts onto a 0 per cent balance transfer credit card. Thousands of us relied on credit to get us through Christmas, sticking an average of £399 on plastic, but January has brought with it a financial hangover and we're looking for ways to save cash. Some store cards offer decent perks, like 20 per cent off your next shop, but as Rachel Springall from moneyfacts.co.uk points out the high interest rates could wipe off any discounts applied for taking one out. Rates rocket to up to 34.9 per cent APR - to put that in perspective the top 20 credit cards with the lowest APR range from 6.4 per cent to 12.9 per cent. APR is compounded interest month on month. It's easy for it to spiral out of control, which is why its key to get rid of the debts sooner rather than later. If you're already paying off the maximum you can afford then transferring the debts onto a 0 per cent credit card can help bring down the … [Read more...] about How save £300 off your store card balance by transferring to a 0% credit card
You can find out what interest rate you’ll be charged on a credit card with a new online tool
EXPERIAN is set to launch a new online tool, which means you'll be able to see the real interest rates that some credit card lenders are offering before you apply. At the moment, credit card providers only have to give 51% of their customers the representative APR that they advertise. The remaining 49% could be offered a higher rate, which they won't find out until they've completed an application, according to the credit reference agency. But with the new comparison service, Experian says users will be able to see the actual interest rate they will be charged before they apply. The new price comparison feature, which will be free to use, is set to launch over the next couple of months. Experian has said that customers should look for a "star" next to the price comparison results , which means they will be offered the advertised rate. How to apply for a credit cardHERE's what to consider when applying for a credit card. Figure out what sort of card you need - There are several … [Read more...] about You can find out what interest rate you’ll be charged on a credit card with a new online tool