Applying for credit cards is a fairly normal routine for most consumers. Banks, credit unions, and credit card companies often send mailers asking consumers to fill out applications and return them in order to get new cards. For some people, this is a good way to get credit, but for many others, this can spell financial ruin. There are many things to consider when establishing new accounts but one of the most important is the APR.
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and by law it must be posted on all credit card offerings that are sent out to consumers. The APR will tell you how much you will have to pay when you use the credit associated with the account. This amount of interest, however, only applies to that amount of money that you cover over into the next billing period. If you pay off the entire balance within the grace period you will not be assessed any interest. This is an important issue to keep in mind.
Common sense would dictate that when applying for credit cards that you apply for those with the lowest APR. You might be surprised at how much money this can save you over the life of the account. But do be aware that the APR can change depending on...