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Unsecured Christmas credit card and gift charge card. Submit an online application to get a credit card or a retail store charge card in time to buy Christmas gifts. Be sure to read our free Christmas credit card shopping tips to avoid bogus charges.
Christmas Credit Card Debt Settlement, Consolidation or Counseling
Instant Approval Decision Christmas Credit Card Offers with Rewards and CashBack
Read our free tips and advice that can help you get the best rewards, then choose and submit online applications for instant approval decision Christmas credit card offers.
Online applications for bad credit credit cards Online applications for rewards credit cards
Just like retail stores lower prices and offer other incentives to draw customers to their stores instead of their competitors, credit card companies also offer specials, like a no interest, 0% intro period, cashback or other rewards. The people who can benefit most from these special credit card offers, are those who payoff their balances in full monthly. Otherwise if it takes cardholders too long to payoff balances, the inevitable interest will devour any introductory savings and cashback earnings. Of course, it still lessens the impact of interest charges.
In addition to standard unsecured credit cards that can be used anywhere, there are also retail store charge cards (which can only be used in that particular store). And now, there are hybrid cards from major issuers like Visa and MasterCard, that give special rewards and discounts for shopping at a particular retail store.
These various Christmas credit card offers and special deals all reveal a truth: The credit card companies; and stores, are competing to get you to be their customer. This puts you, the consumer, in a very good position.
If you add shopping strategy, you can really save big time.
One tip you may want to consider is to begin purchasing in advance of Christmas instead of waiting until December. By doing this, you'll actually start paying on your Christmas debt before January. Start purchasing in October and start making your first payment in November (if you won't be paying off in full each month). Not only does this give you an early start on paying off charges, this strategy can also curb your spending and will have less of an impact on your budget. How many Christmas' have you experienced in which you don't realize until January or February exactly how much you've gone over budget. People in this situation who intend to carry a balance, may find it best to get a 6 month 0 intro credit card instead of one that offers cashback... or especially one that offers both if qualified.
Carry a balance, or charge and payoff immediately? If you will be carrying a balance, a credit card with the lowest rate may be a better choice than one that offers cashback. Typically, cashback credit cards are only up to 5% of purchases, whereas interest rates could easily be in the double digits. So, carrying a balance would cost you more with a cashback card than a 0 intro card, especially if you can repay the balance before the intro period expires.
Just as you are looking for the best credit card offer you can qualify for, the people you plan to shop for are likely also looking for credit cards. Maybe you should use your unsecured credit card to purchase pre-paid debit cards, or retail store charge cards, for them to use? You can save money by not having to buy wrapping paper and paying for shipping other than the cost of mailing a Christmas card. Simply slip the prepaid card into a Christmas card and mail it off. Your recipient will be able to buy something they actually need and you won't have to wonder if they returned your gift to the store. If you choose this option, consider a major brand pre-paid card that isn't tied to one particular store, so the recipient can spend the funds anywhere for anything. Although giving 'gift certificates' was once viewed dimly, with economic problems many people would actually prefer to receive cash cards.
Tip: If you get a cashback credit card, be sure to understand how to get the max cashback. Some credit cards offer the highest cashback percentage for certain select purchases, like gas. Find out what types of purchases your credit card company offers the highest cashback percentage.
Make safe credit card purchases with offline and online Christmas gift shopping. Our Christmas credit card safety tips. Sign your credit card before Christmas shopping. Treat your credit cards as you would cash. Don't leave them unattended. Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately. During Christmas cashiers are hurried. Ensure yourcredit card is returned after every gift purchase. Don't be victimized by telemarketer fraud during Christmas. Never give your credit card number on the phone unless you initiate the call. After delivering Christmas gifts and your receipts are no longer needed, shred, tear, or black out account numbers before tossing into the trash. Close all unused credit card accounts and destroy unwanted cards. When using a credit card to purchase online Christmas gifts, ensure the merchant has proper security measures. If unsure, order your Christmas gifts online but consider sending a check or money order for payment. When you buy Christmas gifts, each time you use your credit card; whether for Christmas gifts online or offline, make a record of the date, merchant and amount of charge, then compare with your credit card statements to look for fraudulent charges. New wallet Christmas gift? If a credit card was carried in a wallet, before tossing the old wallet not only should you ensure removal of the credit card, but also examine the old wallet and destroy "impressions" of the card number in the material. Remember: it's far safer to carry a credit card with a $5,000 spending limit than to carry $5,000 in cash while Christmas shopping.
Need more information? Read our financial and credit articles related to credit card offers, and join our online financial newsletter. Credit Card
Before traveling, call the credit card company so that purchases will not be halted due to fraud measures. This is especially necessary when traveling to a foreign country. This helps avoid a freeze on a credit card account. There is antifraud software that monitors customers’ spending patterns. When cardholders stray from usual habits, for example, like making purchases in another state instead of at a store in the home ZIP code area, it could be flagged as fraud.
Many people are glad about this, but others get upset when purchases are denied. In addition to watching for unusual spending patterns, banks also monitor where criminals use stolen cards, which can be places like automated payment kiosks in metropolitan areas. This is why some people have more than one credit card when they travel. It can be a big problem to unfreeze a card when traveling in a foreign country.
For people who travel all the time, countries in Europe, Japan, Canada, and Mexico have adopted a credit card that has a chip. The customer must enter a PIN. Merchants that accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express are supposed to let customers pay with either type of card, yet some employees at stores outside the United States do not always know what to do with the magnetic version.
Another problem can be that automated kiosks in Europe, may only accept chip and PIN cards, particularly in train stations, parking garages, gas stations, and some tollbooths. When this happens, Americans with magnetic stripe cards usually have to wait in line to pay with cash or have a clerk swipe their cards. These lines can be long and frustrating when trying to catch a train. Some merchants in other parts of the world often have higher minimum-purchase requirements, to use a credit card or simply do not accept the cards because they do not want to pay the fees card companies charge retailers. Be sure to contact card issuers before traveling and check the credit limits on each card. |
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