Keep a “clean card” in your wallet

This blog entry plays on a similar strategy to a previous entry, where it is noted that you should never close your unused credit card accounts.

Always keep a “clean card” in your wallet, i.e. a credit card that is paid in full each month. Use this card for your everyday purchases, and pay it off each month in full, so you never have to pay any interest charges.

What is the advantage of using a “clean card” for your purchases instead of paying cash? Well, if your “clean card” has an associated rewards program, then you are earning reward points for your everyday purchases.

If you have some monthly bills that allow for credit card payments, for example your cell phone bill, cable television bill, or even your EZ-Pass bill, then set the auto-bill-pay feature of those accounts to bill your “clean card” every month. You know that you have to pay those bills in full every month anyway, so why not earn points on your bill payments?

Need a new credit card for your “clean card”? Check out ZeroPercentCards.com for all types of credit cards, including ones with reward programs.

Do you have an unused credit card which currently has a zero balance? If so, DON’T CLOSE IT! Keep it to use as your “clean card”.

Even better yet, always keep one credit card with zero balance. Credit card banks will often extend special incentives to get customers with unused accounts to start using their accounts again. You may start to see very low interest rate, or zero interest rate offers mailed to you if you have a dormant credit card account. Why? Because it is cheaper for credit card banks to extend these offers to existing customers than it is to spend money on obtaining new customers.

For more information on “clean cards”, see the following excellent MSNBC blog post at:
http://redtape.msnbc.com/2009/02/maybe-two-years.html

Want to get a credit card with 0% interest? Then check out ZeroPercentCards.com