If you pay off with a high-interest credit card, you might consider making a balance transfer. After all, this will save you financial costs and help you pay off your debts faster.
But what is the logistics involved when transferring the balance from one card to another? The nerds will guide you through the following process:
1. Accept education on balance transfer
Balance transfer is a good opportunity to save interest, but this debt-repayment technique has some uncommon quirks. Before taking the next step, make sure you fully understand and are happy with them:
Transferring the balance usually requires a fee of 3% of the new card amount. Be sure to take this into account when calculating whether the balance transfer is right for you.
The interest-free period of the new card will not last forever. Most credit cards only give you 0% of 6-15 months.
At the end of your 0% April period, you must start paying interest on the remaining balance, so be aware that the card you are transferring the debt to continues for 4 months.
If you miss your payment during April 0, your transaction may be cancelled and you must start paying interest immediately.
Most balance transfer transactions are only available to those with good credit. If your score is below the standard, you may have better luck transferring your debt to a card that lasts for 4 months.
2. Apply for a balance transfer credit card
It's time to find and apply for the card to transfer the balance to. There are many offers on the market, so we have found the best balance transfer offer to make searching a little easier.
When you compare credit cards, be sure to pay special attention to the 0% April deadline and the balance transfer fee. Ideally, the card you choose will have a low cost (or maybe not at all) and a long-term 0% April promotion.
Also, before the end of the non-interest period, calculate how much you need to pay each month to pay off your debts – doing so means you will extract the most value from the balance transfer. If the cost of paying with a card is too high, look for a card with a longer annual interest rate.
Once you have found the card that suits you, complete the online application and sit still and wait for a reply!
3. Collect your information
Once you receive your 0% April card, it is time to collect the required material transfer balance. Specifically, you need the account information for the card you want to transfer and the exact amount you want to transfer.
4. Dial number
It is time to call 0% of the APR Card Customer Service Center. Explain to them that you want to transfer the balance to your new card and then provide them with the information you just collected.
After that, your work is done - they will contact your old credit card company and transfer your designated balance to your new credit card. This sometimes takes a week or two to complete, so be patient!
5. Develop a plan to repay debt
The shackles of escaping the high interest rate are worth celebrating, but it is not time to rest well.
Follow the nerd tips below to develop a detailed debt repayment plan; this will ensure that your balance will run out before the 0% April period:
Develop a budget – develop a rigorous spending plan that pays a large sum of money for 0% of the debt. Then follow it!
Eliminate the extra cost (currently) - You should have calculated the 0% APR card amount you need to pay each month to eliminate the balance before interest begins to accumulate. But think about it, your "minimum" payment - paying more will make you more free of debt. Temporarily reduce unnecessary expenses to free up extra cash.
Track your expenses – the best way to budget work is to pay close attention to your expenses, so don't let a dollar lose your spending.
Go ahead - even after your 0% card is paid, keep up with your budget and track your expenses. In this way, you don't have to worry about credit card debt in the future!