
Should You Open a Store Credit Card for the One-Time Discount?
The discounts can be tempting, but make sure you understand all the terms before you jump on your favorite store's credit card.

The discounts can be tempting, but make sure you understand all the terms before you jump on your favorite store's credit card.

These cards make it easy to earn and redeem points across categories where families spend the most, including food and travel.

You’ll have trouble getting approved for a decent credit card for at least months. Start with an option for bad credit, like a secured credit card.


Some security risks are beyond your control, but there are ways to protect your information and reinforce existing safeguards.

It's a way to quickly pile up rewards, but doing it without damaging your credit is tricky. It's not for everyone.

The highest of Mastercard's three benefit levels includes all the perks of the lower tiers, plus a few extras.

Convenience fees could wipe out any rewards you hope to earn, and carrying debt at typical credit card interest rates would be extremely costly.

Robocalls promise to negotiate with issuers to lower your rate, for a fee. But you can do that yourself for free.

Credit cards offer convenience, rewards and protections. But use them responsibly and avoid overspending.


Even people with good credit can be rejected for a credit card because of a high debt-to-income ratio.

It can mean credit card theft, but there are legitimate reasons for them to appear on your statement, too.

Pay more than the minimum to start whittling down the balance, then examine transfer or consolidation options.

Many credit-card borrowers confuse authorized-user status and co-signing. While both can help a credit newbie, one poses more risk to the responsible party.

A true preapproval means you'll almost certainly get the card if you apply. But be aware of the difference between preapproval and pre-qualification. And in some cases, preapproval can even be a red flag.

You may have hit a credit limit, expiration date or an errant keystroke. A merchant 'hold' or issuer 'freeze' may also be to blame.

The average household has thousands of dollars in revolving balances. But that doesn't have to be permanent.

It starts with getting the right one and using it, responsibly, for all purchases. It's also key to know your card's benefits.

It might sound like a good option if you have bad or no credit, but it has sharp limitations and won’t help your credit scores.


This now-defunct credit card had its eye on urbanites, paying 5 points per dollar on dining, entertainment and Amazon.