by : Ivan Rimsky

Credit Cards have become an essential part of our lives. Whether you are paying for your lunch at a restaurant, clothes at a designer outlet, or cosmetics at shopping malls, nothing is more convenient and easy than a credit card. But what you have to know to get the best deal possible, and actually save hundreds or even thousands with your credit card. The credit card companies and banks are ferociously competitive. Card issuers are fighting to win you, they will pile your mail up with offers like 0% APR, perks, free miles etc. In this article we will inform you about the things to look for, when picking a credit card.

Which card is best for you depends on how you plan to use it. What is that you want your card to do for you? With the differing rates and features of each card, choosing a card to fit individual lifestyles can be difficult. There are websites such, as www.CardFusion.com and many others that will categorize a great number of credit cards and make the searching process easy.  Some may even have step-by-step questionnaires that will give you approximate suggestions as for what cards may be the best for you.  Even if you get lucky to stumble across such a website as you are looking for credit card applications, you will still have to check many details that surround different offers.  Below we have outlined the most important points that you have to check before applying for any card.

Grace period
For people who pay off the entire balance every month the first priority in a card is to be sure it has a grace period and to know the length of the grace period.

Low-interest rate
People who sometimes have an unpaid balance at the end of the month would want to choose a card with a low interest rate and a grace period. If there were no grace period, they would pay interest on the outstanding balance whenever they use the card.

Fees
Most companies will offer you cards with no annual fee, however you have to carefully read the declaimer before applying for a card to make sure there are no hidden fees. Don't subscribe to a card simply because it does not charge an annual fee. Other fees such, as late fees and over-credit-limit fees, might add up to a much greater amount in the long run.

Other charges
Almost all card companies will penalize you each time you make a late payment. More importantly late payment, if it’s reported to the credit bureau can really hurt your credit history. Some offer protection services against this fee; others charge a bomb.

Now as you know the essentials of picking a credit card according to your needs, go ahead and search around for the best deals.  Remember to visit at least a couple of websites before applying for the card of your choice.  Read carefully all the details and even call the credit card company to insure that the card you are applying for is exactly what you think it is.