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By Sarah Wray Staff Writer
Monday, 17 November 2008
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Compare Credit Cards
Credit cards to compare this Christmas:
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IT’S that time of year again. Christmas is coming and it’s time to eat, drink and be merry, trim the tree and er…compare credit cards.
It doesn’t sound all that festive we know, but using the right credit card this season could help you have a very merry Christmas without the financial hangover in the New Year.
Here’s why…
Compare credit cards so you can… Shop online this Christmas
Using a credit card to do your Christmas shopping online can be both more convenient and safer.
If your online shopping costs more than £100, under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, your credit card company will refund you the money should anything go wrong with your purchase.
Even those with a poor credit score can take advantage of this convenience and protection by applying for a credit card aimed at those with a bad credit score.
Using the card and paying the balance off in full will also help to rebuild a damaged credit score, but be hyper aware of the extremely high interest rates these cards charge. They are really not suitable for anyone unable to pay off their purchases quickly.
Although using a credit card to do online Christmas shopping is handy, it’s really important not to get carried away.
Only spend what you can afford to pay off straight away or you could find yourself still paying for the 2008 Christmas shopping in December 2009.
Compare credit cards so you can… Get Christmas cashback
Christmas is a time when many of us end up spending significantly more than we do the rest of the year. Christmas dinner, parties, party outfits, presents…it all adds up.
You might as well get something back for your money and you can if you use a cashback credit card.
Some cashback credit cards also offer returns in the form of retail rewards such as free or reduced goods like travel, entertainment or supermarket shopping.
Cashback credit cards pay you every time you spend on them. Use a cashback credit card for all the spending you would do anyway and the rewards could stack up.
A word of warning though: Make sure you can afford to pay the bill off though or the interest will outweigh any cashback rewards.
Compare credit cards so you can… Have an interest-free Christmas
The best way to pay no interest on a credit card bill is to pay the balance off straightaway.
However, if you want to splash out this Christmas and would prefer to pay the bill off gradually, choosing the right card will help you to do this.
The cheapest way is to use a 0% purchase credit card or transfer any balance to a 0% interest credit card in the New Year. There is one credit card that allows you to do both of these (for 10 months) at the same time: Halifax All In One credit card
If 0% interest isn’t an option, the next best thing is using a credit card with the lowest interest rate possible.
How to compare Christmas credit cards
Luckily comparing credit cards for use this Christmas is easy. Use Choosemoney’s credit card comparison feature to find the best card for you.
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