Compare credit cards to keep yourself informed

The following is a guest post.

I have recently become completely credit card debt free. It wasn’t easy, and it took quite a long time (5 years) but I’m glad that I did it. When I look at my list of bills, it’s a relief to not have any credit card payments. I know that I can’t be trusted with them but sometimes, I do contemplating using my card to automate my bills.

Despite great reader feedback and extensive discussions with my husband, I still haven’t made a decision as to what I want to do. I’m much more comfortable with paying cash but it does get to be a pain to remember all the logins. And when I go shopping, it would be nice to not have to remember cash all the time (especially when I go to stores like Target where I buy a bunch of items in different budget categories).  I’m also not convinced I have the best credit card.

The cards that I have are cards that I’ve had for 10+ years. I stay with them because I know the limit, I know the interest rate and quite frankly, I’m too lazy to look for new ones. However, should I get to that point, it’s probably a good idea for me to compare credit cards so I know that I’m getting the best one for my spending habits. I’m not a huge fan of reward cards but it’s probably a good idea to know what the different programs are (not to mention understanding the different terms of each program).

I don’t believe that credit cards are inherently evil. I think a lot of the evil lies in the spending habits and conscientiousness of the user. If someone uses credit responsibly, and pays it in full and on time every month, credit cards can be an effective way to make purchases. Sadly for me, I have a demonstrated history of not being able to use credit cards responsibly; hence my dilemma with automating.

Please don’t misunderstand. I do think that there are some unfair practices that occur in credit card companies, and that they do take advantage of a lot of their customers. That’s why we, as customers, need to be as informed as possible.  So if you’re in the market for a new card, make sure you do your research. Information is key.