Your credit card is one of the most essential financial tools in your wallet.
It is important to have the best credit card suited for you.
Prior, to applying for one you should do some comparison shopping first.
The first thing that you need to do is gather the card offers that you receive every day in your mail box and classify them accordingly.
If you have thrown them all away, then simply go online and look at different offers in various categories and print them.
Next, go through each card and try to determine what features are going to be best for you and write them down on a piece of paper for your reference.
Once you have determined what features are best for you, then go through the card offers again and begin selecting from issuers who match your criteria the best.
Look at features such as the annual APR, the introductory rate or balance transfer options as well.
Today, the Internet is one of the best places to start shopping around for a card offer.
Most, if not all the major providers have websites that you can visit for information.
The Internet makes shopping for a card a breeze.
Simply, sit back in your favorite chair, pour your self a cup of coffee or tea and begin your online search for all the information that you can think of.
There are also many comparison websites available online where you can compare features side by side.
Essentially, the Internet makes shopping for a credit card easier than tying your shoe laces.
Before you go shopping online for the first thing that you need to do is analyze how you are going to use the card.
You must also decide for yourself if you are going to be carrying a monthly balance.
Those who are planning to carry a monthly credit card balance should consider looking for the lowest rate APR offer available.
Perhaps, a no frills credit card offer that does not have any extra features such as rewards is going to be your best bet.
On the other hand, if you do not plan to carry a monthly balance, then there are hoards of rewards credit card offers that you can take advantage of.
Many issuers will give you free interest for paying your balance in full at the end of the month.
Then apply your rewards benefits and you can actually walk away with some cash savings.
If this is your situation then you should also want to examine a rewards credit card that is going to best fit your lifestyle.
In other words, do not get an airlines rewards card if you do not plan to do any kind of traveling.
If you are a frequent traveler who pays the balance in full every month than an airlines rewards card is definitely worth your while.
In addition to the interest rate, always examine fees prior to applying either online or by mail.
Card issuers always charge fees such as late fees, over the limit fees, balance transfer fees, cash advance fees as well as other charges.
If you plan to use the cash advance feature than be sure and look for an offer that has the lowest cash advance fees on the market.
Keep in mind that cash advance interest rates for the most part always exceed interest costs for purchases or balance transfers.
By keeping abreast of all this information you will be able to make the best decision prior to submitting the final application.
Another thing to consider before you apply for a credit card is how well accepted the brand might be.
For example, Discover is a very popular credit card offer in the United States and widely accepted here and in Canada, however, if you go to Europe you might not find very many merchants who accept Discover.
American Express credit card offers are accepted world wide however there are merchants who do not want to pay the extra fees associated with accepting American Express cards.
Apply for a card that is going to be accepted where you go the most.
If you travel abroad then perhaps you might be better off with a Chase Visa credit card offer then the Discover More Card.
Use your common sense before submitting that final application and make sure that the credit card issuer that you choose works every where you go.