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!

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:

1. Demonstrate that you can hold a job.

A stable employment history is one thing that credit card companies look at when you apply for a card. Having several jobs within a short time may work against you.

2. Open a checking account at a local bank.

You can open a checking account at a bank without a credit check being done, and the fact that you have an account does not get passed on to credit reporting agencies. Having a checking account that is in good standing will show a prospective lender, including a credit card company, that you are capable of managing your money, though.

3. Add overdraft protection to your checking account.

Overdraft protection means that the bank will extend a certain amount of credit on your checking account to cover a check that is larger than your account balance. You will be responsible for paying a service charge and/or interest until the amount of the overdraft is paid. Depositing funds to pay off the amount of the overdraft and bring your account balance into the black is a way of demonstrating that you are responsible with this amount of credit. Don’t go over the amount of your overdraft protection, though, since this will work against you in establishing yourself as someone who is creditworthy.

4. Apply for a gas company or department store credit card.

These types of cards are relatively easy to get, and the credit limits are usually low. This may be a good place to start, but keep in mind that the interest rate you will be charged will probably be higher than with other types of credit cards. Keep an eye on your spending, and make sure you pay at least the minimum amount due each month.

5. Get a secured credit card.

To establish credit when you don’t have a credit history, apply for a secured credit card. With this type of card, you put up a security deposit equal to the amount of your credit limit. The money is held in a bank account and used to pay the balance owing if you don’t make your payments. Start with a small credit limit of a few hundred dollars at first; you can always increase it by putting up a larger security deposit later. By making your payments on time, you are establishing a credit history that will make it easier for you to get an unsecured credit card later on.

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.

2. How Interest is Calculated

Some cards will calculate the interest on the amount of your balance over the last cycle, while others will use the last two billing cycles to calculate this amount. Find out when the interest starts to accrue on the unpaid balance. There may be an interest-free grace period for a certain number of days following a purchase, and you can time your payment accordingly.

3. Amount of Fees Charged

Some credit card companies will offer a lower interest rate, but you are required to pay an annual fee for the privilege of having a credit card account with them. Keep in mind that this fee will be charged whether you are actually using the card or not.

Also, for balance transfer cards, keep in mind that some cards have balance transfer fees and some do not. This can make a big difference.

4. Reward Programs Available

Part of comparing different credit card offerings is to look at the type of rewards each company offers. There are many kinds to choose from, and here are a few examples:

• Cash back rewards
• Air miles travel rewards
• Reward points

Air miles may be an incentive to apply for a particular card, but you need to find out whether the miles have an expiration date attached to them or if they can be used indefinitely. Avoid cards that place a cap on the number of air miles that you can collect.

The reward points offered by some credit card companies may be collected and used to get tickets to sporting events, movies, music, and video game rentals. This may sound like a good deal, but you would likely have to charge a lot of stuff on your card to qualify for the rewards. Buying what you want outright may be a better idea than trying to accumulate enough points to get something really big.

5. Notice of Changes to Your Account

It’s a good idea to use your credit card regularly to keep the account active. Some companies have lowered credit limits or changed other terms because the account is not being used often enough. Others have increased the rate of interest they charge if you are late a certain number of times with your payment. You will also want to read the cardholder agreement to determine whether the credit card company must give you notice in writing before changing the terms of your agreement and how much notice they are required to give.

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.

2. Apply for a secured credit card

A secured credit card is one where you give the credit card company a deposit as security for your account. Most people who get one start of with a small limit (in the hundreds of dollars), although there are secured credit card companies that will allow you to deposit larger amounts.

3. Avoid having and outstanding account go to collections

Your creditor probably doesn’t want your account to go to collections either, since they will only recover a relatively-small percentage of what you owe. The collection agency will keep the lion’s share of the amount for themselves, which is why they can be so aggressive about trying to collect money from you.

A better approach is to negotiate a payment schedule with your creditors directly. They may be willing to offer you a different payment schedule or lower your interest rate, especially if you have been a customer for some time or you are temporarily laid off. Don’t wait until your account is in arrears (90 days or more overdue) before you take the initiative to contact the company and try to work something out. You will be in a better bargaining position if you take action early on.

4. Don’t close older credit card accounts

Part of your credit rating is determined by the length of time you have had your accounts open. Paying off your credit cards is a good thing to do, whether we are in a recession or not, but leave the account open. Make a small purchase on the account once a month or so and pay it off in full when you get your statement to keep your account active.

5. Hang onto the job you have (if possible)

You want to demonstrate some stability by holding onto a job for some time, if at all possible. While it’s true that many people are being laid off from their jobs these days, when you are looking for a new one, try to find something that you are prepared to stick with for a year or two. Now is not the time to start job hopping, if you can possibly avoid it.

It is possible to improve your credit score, even in the midst of a recession. The 5 tips listed here will help you to reach that goal.

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!

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:

1. Ask the Credit Card Company to Explain the Decision

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone to discuss the matter with the credit card company. The company made a unilateral decision, and there is nothing wrong with asking why your account was targeted to have the credit limit lowered. Some companies conduct regular checks on their customers’ credit ratings and the decision may have been made based on something in your credit report.

If it turns out that the decision to lower your credit limit was based on incorrect information, you need to contact the credit reporting agencies to report it and get it corrected. Once the correction has been made, you can ask the credit card company to reconsider its decision.

2. Speak to a Supervisor

When you contact the Customer Service Department at the credit card company, the person who answers the phone may say that they can’t reinstate your previous credit limit. If that is the case, then ask to speak to supervisor or manager who can make the change for you. Sometimes, all you need to do to get the results you want is to go a little higher on the food chain.

3. Be Polite, But Firm

You can get pretty much anything you want, as long as you are polite about it. Now is not the time to make threats or talk about how insulted you are about the decision. Simply explain that based on your previous history and exemplary payment record, that you feel the company should reconsider its decision. Gather your records and remind them that you have been their customer for “x” number of years and that you have always made your payments on time. If you make your case and the company refuses to budge, then you may need to move on to the next item on the list:

4. Find Another Credit Card Company

Since you have a good credit history, you have the option of applying for a new card and transferring your existing balance to that account. Several companies will allow you to do so interest-free, and this is a good incentive to make the switch. Once the transfer has been done, don’t close the old account, since this may affect your credit rating. Instead, use the card once a month or so for a small purchase and pay for it in full.

If your credit card company has lowered your limit, even though you have good credit, you aren’t powerless. Don’t take it lying down; find out why they made the change and look at another company if necessary.

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!

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:

1. Apply for a 12 month 0% balance transfer credit card

A 12 month balance transfer card at 0% interest will allow you to pay off your holiday shopping credit card bill over 12 months, making it much more manageable. And the good news is that you won’t have to pay interest during this time.

2. Divide your holiday debt into 11 parts

You might think 12 makes more sense, but you want to have the debt paid off by November of the following year so that you are completely debt free by the next holiday shopping season. So let’s say that you have $2000 in Christmas shopping bills that you can’t pay off right away. Divide that by 11 and you get approximately $182 (always round up).

3. Send in 11 monthly payments and make sure they get in on time!

Take the amount you calculated above and just send that amount in each month. You may need to cut back a little on your other expenses during the year to make room for the amount you need to pay off, but that’s ok. It’s important that you stay disciplined and make this a priority. If you make the calculated payment each month for 11 months, you’ll be completely free of holiday shopping debt by next Christmas. And by splitting the payments up by 11, it is a very manageable plan.

So that’s a our tip for paying off Christmas & Holiday credit card debt. We hope it helps take away some stress in a season that is meant to be joyful!

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!