Credit Card Matcher

My father in law taught be a great tip for how to save money almost effortlessly.

It is a simple tip. On the face of it too simple.

All you do is record what you spend your money on. Common sense, right? But how many people do you know who actually do it? Exactly.

The secret is to record every single transaction, cash or card, down to the penny.

Now he did this the hard way. He used one of those little black leather bound notebooks, like a moleskine but probably not a name brand.

We have the ability to go one better and use a spreadsheet. Either use Google docs, your smart phone or take notes and or my favorite, collate back home using the awesome Microsoft Excel (I blog about Microsoft Excel productivity here).

Doing this gives you these immediate benefits:

1. You spend your money more conciously – you actually take notice of when you are spending
2. Impusle purchases dissapear as you make yourself accountable for each purchae
3. You can see where your money is going and trim the waste
4. Your outgoings add up automatically so you can see how much money you have left over
5. When you spot waste you can shift budget toward paying down debt or savings

Try it for a month and see how well it works for you!

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Applying for your first credit card can be a bit difficult, since credit card companies determine how creditworthy you are by how well you have handled credit in the past. You can’t show that you have handled credit well because you don’t have any credit history, and if no one will give you credit, you can’t show them that you are a responsible person who pays on time.

It may take a bit of time, but there are some steps you can take to show credit card providers that you would be a good customer. Here are some suggestions that should help:

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There are many options available to consumers who are interested in applying for credit cards. So many, in fact, that it may be confusing to try to figure out which one is right for you. Here are some suggestions to help you narrow down the list so that you can find the right one for your needs.

1. Your Usual Credit Card Habits

Take some time to think about how you really use your credit cards, as opposed to how you would like to use them. Ideally, you may want to avoid carrying a balance at all. If the reality is that you are likely to do so, then you will probably want to look for a card with a low interest rate.

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Even though we are in the midst of a recession, there are some steps that you can take to improve your credit.

It may be more difficult to convince banks and credit card companies to lend money right now, but at some point they will be more willing to extend credit, and you want to show them that you are creditworthy at that point.

Here are five solid tips for improving your credit, especially during a recession:

1. Pay your bills on time

This is a bit of a no-brainer, but it is worth mentioning. If you want to improve your credit rating, you need to demonstrate that you have a history of paying your bills on time. Make at least the minimum payment. (more…)

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Card of the Month: Platinum Card from American Express

Each month, Credit Card Matcher is featuring one credit card that we feel deserves to be highlighted for being an exceptional card in the current market. This month, April 2009, the card that we are highlighting is Platinum Card from American Express.

This credit card from American Express is one of the best high-end credit cards available today and it offers it’s holder all of the following benefits:

• Earn up to 25,000 Membership Rewards® bonus points
• By Invitation Only® Events
• Complimentary Airport Club Access worldwide
• 24-hour access to Concierge service
• Exclusive access to a private collection of rewards
• No Pre-set Spending Limit

Read more about our April 2009 Credit Card of the Month and apply today!

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You have always thought of yourself as a good customer as far as your credit is concerned. You have made your payments on time and are not close to your credit card limit at all. Unfortunately, this may not be enough to keep your credit limits at the level you have previously had. The credit card companies are responding to the fact that some of their customers are defaulting on their debts by re-evaluating the creditworthiness of their other customers.

In a nutshell, even though you have done all the right things, you may open your credit card statement to find that your limit has been lowered. It’s important to understand that you still have some choices in this situation. You don’t have to just roll over and accept the credit card company’s decision. Here are some suggestions: (more…)

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Card of the Month: Blue from American Express

Each month, Credit Card Matcher is featuring one credit card that we feel deserves to be highlighted for being an exceptional card. This month, February 2009, the card that we are highlighting is Blue from American Express.

This credit card from AMEX is one of the best cards currently in the marketplace and it offers it’s holder all of the following benefits:

• 0% APR on Purchases for Up to 12 Months
• No Annual Fee
• Low Balance Transfer APR — 2.99% for 12 Months
• Unique transparent blue look

Read more about our February 2009 Card of the Month and apply today!

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It is not unusual for people to overspend their budget in December during the Christmas and holiday shopping season. When your credit card bill comes in January, you may be in shock and it’s very possible that the bill is more than you can afford to pay off.

At Credit Card Matcher, we will always tell you to never spend more money on your credit card then you can afford to pay off at the end of the month. Using a credit card responsibly is just that: only use a credit card to spend within your means. However, we can completely understand if you overspend in December, even with those coupons and discount vouchers. And the good news is that so long as you are disciplined the other 11 months, there is a straightforward way to eliminate your Christmas shopping debt.

Here’s the three step plan:

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Barclays just launched the Visa Black Card as a way to compete at the high end with the American Express Centurion card. The Visa Black Card has a unique feel because it is made out of carbon graphite. This higher-end construction makes the card feel elite and distinct, which is all part of Barclays plan to tap the high-end credit card market.

The Visa Black Card will be limited to less than 1% of the US population, meaning that you will probably have to do over a million dollars in purchases per year, though the specific terms have not been released.

Here’s what we know about the Visa Black Card:

• Limited Membership (1% of U.S. Residents)
• 1% cash back on purchases or $1 = 1 points that can redeemed for travel anytime
• 24-Hour Concierge Service
• Exclusive Rewards Program
• Luxury Gifts
• Patent Pending Carbon Graphite
• Annual Fee $495

Become a VISA Black Card member today. Apply Now!

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Our mission is to match up with the perfect credit card for you, wether you want a new credit card for yourself, a business or fuel credit card for your company, or if you are switching to get the best deal.

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