0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers

No fee 0% balance transfer credit card offers are getting much harder and harder to find. What is someone looking to reduce their debt debt supposed to do? What is someone looking to plan a big financial expense (such as a home improvement or other large capital project) go for some quick financing? Fortunately, 0% balance transfer offers aren’t going away. Companies have simply added one-time transfer fees that make the offer less lucrative but still valuable if you’re in need of a quick credit infusion.

First, why have the best offers becoming harder to find? It’s because the tightening credit market has caused many issues to pull back their best offers. Credit is not as free flowing as is used to be and those battling debt, or looking for some other edge on their balances, are noticing. As recently as a year ago, you could find three dozen no fee 0% balance transfer offers out there… now it’s getting much harder and harder.

Second, what’s the best way to take advantage of these 0% offers? Many credit cards still offer a 0% balance transfer but now have an associated fee with them but they are still a great way for you to take a quick interest breather, to get more caught up, if you’re carrying debt or they’re valuable for financial planning reasons.

If you are saddled with debt, taking out a 0% balance transfer may be a good decision under certain circumstances. First, compare the interest rate of your debt to the one offered by the credit card after your 0% APR promotional period. If the old debt is higher than the new one, it’s a no brainer – apply for a 0% balance transfer credit card and move the debt. If the interest rate of your debt is lower or the same, how much can you pay off during the 0% period? If the answer is “not a lot,” then you may not want to move it. If the answer is “the whole thing,” and you must be certain of this, then it makes sense to move it.

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#1 Money Hacks Carnival No. 26: Old Money Edition | Our Fourpence Worth on 08.20.08 at 9:02 am

[...] DMH presents 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers. [...]

#2 Carnival of Personal Finance #167 - Highlights from the Beijing 2008 Olympics — Broke Grad Student on 08.25.08 at 7:08 am

[...] 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers [...]

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