Research Schools

How to Easily Find Out Which Credit Card Type You Should Get

 

 

Credit cards can get you out of the messiest financial situations. And help you build a good credit score which is an amazing aspect of it. But how do you choose a suitable one out of the many options available? 


Choosing a suitable credit card for yourself might be a very difficult task. The reason for this is that there are many options to choose from. So you could become overwhelmed by the many choices available to you. But you don't have to become anxious because out of the many, and only a few will be suitable for you.


It depends on so many factors like your current credit score, your occupation, or how and why you tend to purchase the most. 


In this article, we'll help you cut out the unnecessary noise and go straight for exactly what you need in a credit.


Here are some of the most important steps to take when deciding on a choice of credit card

  1. Determine your credit score and report 

The first step to getting the right credit card is knowing what your credit score is. To find out what your credit score is, there are a few resources that can get the job done.


  • CreditWise

  • Discover Credit Scorecard


Some of these services will give you an idea of what makes your credit score so and how you can improve it. Particularly with discover or capital one, you don't need to be a customer to gain access to the service. 


Credit scores differ depending on the scoring model. Commonly we have the FICO and VantageScore models. Since the most commonly used is the FICO, here is a list of ranges, including the corresponding remarks.


  • Very poor: 300 to 579

  • Fair: 580 to 669

  • Good: 670 to 739

  • Very good: 740 to 799

  • Excellent: 800 to 850


Knowing what range you fall in can help you cut the chase and give you exactly what you need. It could be to build your score, clear debts, or enjoy the excellent credit score you already have. 

  1. Decide which type of credit card meets your needs


There are various types of credit cards for different kinds of people. Depending on which stage of life you’re in, you must get a credit card that aligns with your lifestyle. So, assess your lifestyle and see options here for different types of credit cards. Remember to do more research and make the right decision. 

  1. Reward-based Cards

If you want to get massive discounts in the form of rewards, you'd better get a reward-based credit. For example, some credit cards offer as much as a 50% reward on all your purchases. This type of credit card is especially great if you have had an excellent credit score and do not have any debt to be settled. 


Reward cards can make harsh cost prices of items more subtle on you and help to subsidize travel expenses, which can sometimes be a lot. Although rewards cards come in different forms, they aren't all the same. Hence you still have to choose the one that suits you most eventually.


But this is just a general idea of what rewards cards are and how they can suit your spending lifestyle. Specifically, we have:


  • Cashbacks: Rewards usually come in various ways as cashback points for travel, gas, groceries, and dining expenses.

  • Air travel miles: If you travel a lot, this might be your time to shine. Some credit cards partner with airlines to offer customers friendly air travel miles when you travel with them. Examples include American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles card or Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard. Some other cards instead offer cheaper gliding around the world and will offer you points that you can apply to travel-related purchases, including accommodations and renting cars.

  • Discount or gift cards: Other credit card companies roll out promotions to help you earn something with gift cards. For instance, the Amazon Visa card from chase offered a $60 Amazon gift card upon signing up with them. This also includes other perks like 3% cashback on Amazon purchases, 2% cashback on gas purchases, dinings, and drugs, 1% cashback on other purchases. 

  1. 0% APR

0% APR cards are for those that need help with debt. Yes, if your hands are tied with debt, and you need to get out of it. The. 0% APR cards are your best bet. You get 0% interest on all your purchases. Some of the best cards in terms of this can offer as long as 18month of borrowing with 0% interest. Regardless you can get any good 0% APR credit card offering to make your credit card free of interest for a whole year. And that's amazing. During this period, you can focus on offsetting your debts without the extra trouble. 

  1. Building credit

Some cards help you build a good credit score. If your focus is on building your credit score, you should forget about the 0% APR and other fancy special offers that some cards can give you. This is especially good if your score is lower than 669. Building a good credit score is key to getting the best interest rates.  But why are we talking about getting a credit card when you normally can't get one without a good credit score. Well, as the name implies, building credit cards are purposely made for you and this purpose. Many people deserving of credit cards won't get one if all you need is a high credit score. So if your credit card score is fair or average, then you need this card to start making your score solid. 


A good example of this credit card type is the "Discover It" secured credit card. You can earn cash backs of 2% at restaurants and filling stations on up 1000 dollars in accumulated expenses.

  1. Look around for the best credit card offers

When you've decided the type of credit card that suits you best now, then you should choose from the best offers. A good example is the 0% APR. While some of the best offers to go for are interests for as long as a year, others don't last that long. Another aspect to consider when making the best choice of your credit card is the fees. The fees include annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and late payment fees. 


Knowing the right information will help you make the right choice on which credit card fits best with your lifestyle. Take your time, do your research and make the best decision for you.