Credit News

From Amazon to eBay, you can pretty much find anything you can imagine online and for sale. Because of this, it doesn’t take much to get caught up in the tangles of shopping on the web. It’s easy, convenient, and the shopping is truly endless. Racking up credit card debt while shopping online is almost effortless, especially considering that credit cards are considered to be the safest and most common means of payment in the online marketplace. But a few small changes can make this costly habit a bit easier to control.

When using credit cards, be sure you are getting the most out of the ones you use. If you use credit cards with reward incentives, be sure they are ones that you benefit from and can take advantage of regularly. For instance, for the shopper who frequents Amazon.com, the Amazon Visa may be a good choice. Not only can you accumulate one point for every dollar of regular purchases, but also three points for every dollar spent on Amazon.com. Once the cardholder accumulates a total of 2,500 points (every $834-$2,500), they receive a $25 gift certificate to use on Amazon.com. For certain shoppers, this can be a way to increase their savings (Source: JPMorgan Chase).

Reevaluate the credit card accounts you have. Once every few months, look at which cards you’ve used online and benefited from. If it wasn’t as easy as you thought to get that free flight to New York, reconsider other credit card travel programs. Perhaps your dollar could get you further on another credit card reward program.

With all credit cards, be sure and pay your balance in full every month. This will help you avoid being charged interest and late fees, and it will make the effects of your online spending more obvious.

Be selective with your credit card use to avoid getting stuck in the tangles of web- induced credit card debt. Doing so will make your shopping experience that much more enjoyable.

Source: Informa Research Services