:
Credit cards have an interest free grace period between the purchase date and the statement due date if you pay the balance in full every month. The best way to handle any credit card is to take advantage of this and use the card for regular purchases and pay the statement balance in full every month. That builds credit and avoids interest.
If you do not pay the statement balance in full, you will be charged interest on the next statement. Interest is calculated on the average daily balance (total of each day's balance, divided by the number of days) times the monthly interest rate (APR divided by 12).
Interest rates and rules are different for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. Some cards offer special low interest rates for a limited period for balance transfers -- paying off another credit card or debt and shifting the debt to the special rate card. Sometimes balance transfers can be good if you have higher interest debts. But you should not make additional charges on the account until the balance transfer is paid off.
Stay away from cash advances. Not only is the APR much higher than the purchase rate, interest begins to accrue immediately. There is also a fee of 3% to 5%, depending on your card terms. Kinda expensive way to get cash.
|