Related Consumer Finance Programs - The following sub-directories of companies offer a wide variety of financial programs to assist you with the management of your finances. Consolidate debt with a consolidation loan or use a debt counseling service or mortgage refinance for help with the consolidation of your charge card debt and other monthly payments.
- Debt Consolidation Settlement - Finding yourself in the common situation of being unable to meet your credit card payments month after month? The negotiation of your bills may be a good solution for getting you back on track with your financial obligations. Compare various programs and see if this option is right for you.
- Debt Management Services - Having trouble keeping up with your monthly credit payments? Compare debt management companies in this online list that can try amd help you get a grip on your personal financial situation.
- Personal Loan Consolidation - Looking for a small loan to consolidate your debt? Personal loans are typically unsecured and do not require the use of collateral.
Avoiding Costly Banking Mistakes: No Trivial Pursuit
Here are clues to preventing expensive errors with your checking account, credit card or other financial services. After all, this isn't play money!
Paying as little as possible on your credit card bill each month
It sounds like a good idea to pay your credit card company as little as possible each month so you can keep more money to spend on other things. But the reality is that the long-term costs of this strategy can be staggering.
"If you use a credit card to make a major purchase and each month you pay back only the minimum amount you owe, not only will it take you a very long time to pay off the balance but the total interest and fees can sometimes double the cost of what you purchased," said Janet Kincaid, FDIC Senior Consumer Affairs Officer.
For example, suppose you buy a computer for $1,000 and you only pay back the minimum required, which we'll say is $20 a month. At an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 18 percent, that $1,000 computer will cost you $2,931 and take more than 19 years to pay off, which is about 15 years longer than you'll probably own the computer.
To minimize your costs, pay as much as you can on your credit card each month — pay the entire balance, if possible — to avoid interest charges. If you can't pay most or all of your credit card bill, try to pay as much above the minimum as possible. "Finding a way to pay a little more each month can make a noticeable difference in reducing your interest costs," Kincaid said. Using our previous example, raising your monthly payment from $20 to $50 will bring the total cost of a $1,000 purchase (including the finance charges) to $1,198, allowing you to pay off the debt in just two years.
However, if all you can afford to pay back each month is the minimum amount, pay that — and pay it on time — to avoid late fees and a bad mark on your credit record, which in itself can be costly.
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Fall 2006 |
No Trivial Pursuit |
Not Checking Up on Your Account |
Not Considering Bank Fees | |
FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDIC Consumer News is produced quarterly by the FDIC Office of Public Affairs in cooperation with other Divisions and Offices. It is intended to present information in a nontechnical way and is not intended to be a legal interpretation of FDIC or other government regulations and policies. Mention of a product, service or company does not constitute an endorsement.
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Last updated on 11/08/2006