Credit Cards

Credit cards can be used in order to purchase items and servies, or even to withdraw cash. Each month you are then provided with a 'credit card statement' that allows you to see how much you've spent during the previous month.

On receiving that statement, you can then choose how much to pay off. Some people like to pay it all off in full (maybe because they couldn't afford to pay for an item in cash originally but now have money in their bank account). Others prefer to pay off part of the amount. In these circumstances, you pay interest on the unpaid balance of your account.

Credit cards effectively offer you a short-term loan, although it should be noted that some of them do have very high interest rates. They can be very useful but you should use them with care - it's easy to get carried away and think that spending money on a credit card is not like "paying for things".

It's best to shop around and see what different credit card companies can offer. Listed below are a number of credit card companies, some of whom you will probably have heard of, as they do tend to advertise extensively:

Saving on Credit Card Payments

How to choose a credit card

Best Credit Cards - helping you find the best credi cards available.

You can find out about all sorts of personal finance subjects by taking a look at our finance books section.