These days, it’s not too often that the terms “frugal” and “credit cards” appear in the same sentence. There are stories about people who carry large balances on their credit cards and then end up paying a large amount of interest in the process. Other stories focus on the cardholder who missed a payment or two and then got hit with a higher interest rate and/or other fees.

But there are still plenty of ways to save money and even earn additional cash, rebates or rewards with credit cards. Responsible credit card use coupled with smart credit choices can combine to produce outcomes that would please even the most frugal amongst us.

Often, credit card reward programs are only truly worthwhile when a cardholder consistently pays his or her entire balance each month. If a balance is consistently held month-to-month, interest charges can quickly add up and can offset cash rebates or other rewards that are accumulated. That said, here are some types of credit cards that can help you save - or even earn - money in the long run.

Cash back credit cards
Cash back (or cash rebate) credit cards allow cardholders to accumulate cash rewards by making purchases with the card. Cash rewards are often redeemed in the form of a check, a statement credit, gift cards and more.

Airline mile and travel reward credit cards
This type of credit card has a reward program that is focused on travel. Rewards earned with this type of card can often be redeemed for free flights, flight rebates or other travel discounts

Credit cards with general (points) reward programs
With this type of credit card, cardholders accumulate reward points by making purchases with the card, which can then be redeemed for a variety of products and services (not limited to one category).

Credit cards with low balance transfer rates
If you are currently carrying a balance on one or more credit cards, transferring the existing balance(s) to a credit card with a low interest rate on balance transfers can help you to save money.

Pre-paid cards
Using pre-paid debit cards instead of traditional credit cards guarantees one thing - you will avoid paying any interest charges on purchases made with the card. You can only spend up to the amount that is pre-paid on the card, so it is not possible to pay interest on an outstanding balance. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be hit with other fees (activation fees, monthly fees, ATM fees, etc.) when using pre-paid cards, though, so be sure to know the terms and conditions of your prepaid debit card before using it.

If you are unsure of where to start you search process, you can sort credit card offers by reward category, sort by credit rating, or you can also sort offers by bank or issuer. Make use of our extensive knowledge base to help you make your next credit decision a knowledgeable one.

Posted in Credit Cards, Personal Finance | Permalink

Can Auto Insurance Rates Increase After Just One Accident?

It is true that being involved in a vehicular accident will often cause an increase in your auto insurance rates. If you’ve been involved in an accident, it is likely that you will see a rise in your insurance rates when your policy is up for renewal.

However, whether or not you will see an increase and how much of an increase you will see can vary widely. A number of factors will determine the outcome of each specific situation, including state laws and the policies of your current insurance company. Read here for more information about this topic.

If you find yourself in need of a new auto insurance company, you can compare auto insurance quotes to help find the auto insurance company that fits your specific coverage and budget needs.

Posted in Insurance | Permalink

New Auto Insurance Tips and Advice Center

The new Auto Insurance Tips & Advice center is filled with detailed information about the ins and outs of auto insurance coverage. In this area, you will find answers to common questions about auto insurance coverage, policies and costs.

Topics include:
- Auto Insurance Coverage
- Auto Insurance Explained
- Auto Insurance Myths
- Choosing an Auto Insurance Company
- Online Auto Insurance
- Saving Money on Auto Insurance

Make sure that your next car insurance decision is a knowledgeable one. Visit the new Auto Insurance Tips and Advice area now or get free auto insurance quotes from multiple companies and find out how much you could be saving.

Posted in Site Updates, Insurance | Permalink

Cell Phone Manufacturer Information

If you find yourself considering the purchase of a cell phone from an unknown cell phone manufacturer or are in need of information about a specific manufacturer for any other reason, check out our cell phone manufacturers section.

This area lists company details, news, current phone specials and more from all major cell phone manufacturers. Manufacturers listed and described in the this section include Apple, Ericsson, LG, Nokia, Palm, Samsung, Sanyo, and many more.

View the list of cellular phone manufacturers now before comparing cell phone deals that are available in your area.

With our help, you can easily make your next wireless purchase a knowledgeable one.

Posted in Cell Phones | Permalink

Top 10 Auto Insurance Myths

The stories float around all over the place. Sometimes you can’t even remember who you heard it from or where you heard it. It can be difficult to separate auto insurance myths - secrets to saving money, tips on how to choose the right company or even ways to lower rates - from true facts about auto insurance coverage and premiums.

The article Top 10 Auto Insurance Myths is a good place to start sorting it all out. Some of the most common auto insurance myths are discussed and the debunking of these myths will give you a head start to figuring out what you can truly expect from your auto insurance company.

Once you have a good idea of the type of auto insurance coverage you are seeking, you can get free auto insurance quotes to help find the insurance company that fits your specific coverage and budget needs.

Posted in Insurance | Permalink

We are proud to announce the latest addition to e-wisdom.com: Financial Calculators. These interactive calculators focus on credit card finances, debt management, home loans and student loans and can help you assess your individual financial situation with ease.

All of our calculators are interactive, dynamic and fully customizable, and serve to help you better understand your finances and the options that may be available to you. See below for a complete list of calculators available on e-wisdom.com.

Credit Card Calculators
· Credit Card Minimum Payment Calculator
· Credit Card Optimizer
· Credit Card Payoff Calculator

Debt Management Calculators
· Debt Consolidation Calculator
· Total Debt Calculator
· Home Equity Debt Consolidation Calculator

Mortgage Calculators
· ARM vs. Fixed Rate Mortgage Calculator
· Refinance Interest Savings Calculator
· Loan Comparison Calculator

Student Loan Calculator
· Student Loan Consolidation and Debt Payoff Calculator

And if you seek information beyond what is available with our interactive financial calculators, be sure to check out our extensive knowledge base for answers, definitions, tips, advice and more. Make sure your next credit decision is a knowledgeable one.

Posted in Site Updates, Credit Cards, Loans, Miscellaneous, Personal Finance | Permalink