Which Types of Credit Cards Should Beginners Use

Many of us rely on credit cards to provide a convenient and secure way to purchase goods and services whether they are offline or online. Credit cards are often used to help build credit scores and earn rewards in the process. If you’re looking to find a good credit card as a beginner, there are a lot of newbie-friendly credit cards out there.

Having a credit card is not free money as you are borrowing money from the lender so you can pay for your goods and services. You will then need to repay the amount alongside the interest rate and other charges that come with using a credit card. This is what many beginners tend to overlook when owning a credit card and end up damaging their credit scores in the process.

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If you want to learn more about using a credit card as a beginner and if you’re looking for the best credit cards for beginners, check the article below.

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Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Beginner’s Credit Card

There are a lot of factors to choose from in choosing a credit card that is suited for a beginner. You must first identify your spending habits.

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Think about how you are planning on using the credit card and how much you want to spend. This is critical for you to identify even before you apply for a credit card.

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This will help you learn more about how you are going to use the card. You should also assess your capabilities to repay your debt. This is one of the most common mistakes that a lot of beginners tend to make as they do not earn enough to cover both the fees and interest rates.

Additionally, you also need to know about your credit score as it heavily impacts the interest rate and the credit limit that you will get when you apply for a credit card.

Tips for Using a Credit Card

When it comes to using a credit card, it can be very challenging to prevent yourself from overspending. Always set a budget first before you use the card for any transaction. Do not purchase anything that you cannot afford to pay in the next few months.

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Pay your bill in full each month and make sure that you pay the bill on time. This will heavily affect your credit score if you even miss a single payment. You can mitigate this by setting up automatic payments on your account so you will never miss a payment. Additionally, you should also try to use as little of your credit limit as possible.

Your credit limit is the maximum amount of money that you can use with your credit card. Using too much of your credit limit will hurt your credit score due to the credit utilization ratio. Keep your credit limit below 30% and you should be fine.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a great example of a very simple credit card that is meant for beginners. It is specifically designed for applicants with fair or average credit scores who want to improve or build their credit rating.

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The card has no annual or foreign transaction fee which takes off some of the burdens from you when you receive your monthly bill. You also get a higher credit limit opportunity as there is still room for your credit score to grow.

Capital One is also very generous when it comes to extending and increasing the credit limit to new users.

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card also comes with many other benefits including account notifications, mobile app access, 24/7 customer service, and fraud protection amongst many others.

Interest Rates and Other Charges

While the Capital One Platinum Credit Card does not charge you an annual or foreign transaction fee, there are still some fees that you might want to know before you proceed with the application.

The variable APR for purchases is 26.99% and it is the same with balance transfers and cash advances. You will also have a 3% fee for balance transfers and cash advances.

The card currently does not offer any welcome bonuses but it is still the best card for beginners to build their credit scores.

Note: There are risks involved when applying for and using credit. Consult the bank’s terms and conditions page for more information.

Discover It Secured Credit Card

Discover It Secured Credit Card is another credit card that is designed for people with no credit history or even with bad credit ratings.

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It is loaded with features that can help you build your credit score while also enjoying what it’s like to own a credit card. With the Discover It Secured Credit Card, you get to enjoy a refundable security deposit of at least $200 which you can use as your credit limit.

You can deposit up to $2,500 to your account for you to use. The card has cashback rewards features that you can earn as much as 2% at restaurants and gas stations and 1% on other transactions made with the card.

Take note that there is no limit to how much you can earn as cashback rewards.

Interest Rates and Other Charges

The Discover It Secured Credit Card has a variable APR of 27.99% for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. The card also has a 3% fee for balance transfers and a 5% fee or $10 for cash advances whichever is greater.

You can apply for the card even if you have a credit score of 300 to 600. Simply head over to the official website and apply online by filling out the online application form.

Note: There are risks involved when applying for and using credit. Consult the bank’s terms and conditions page for more information.

Conclusion

With the help of a credit card, you can purchase any goods or services that you want as long as you can repay them on time and in full. Try the credit cards listed above and discover how amazing it is to have a credit card in your life.