Mutual Fund Application Forms Download Any Applications
Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds Invest Online
Infrastructure Bond Application Forms Download Applications

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

No interest period in credit cards have Limited benefit

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Buy Gold Mutual Funds

Leave a missed Call on

94 8300 8300

 

 

Credit card companies, often, dangle offers that seem irresistible. But most probably, they are not as profitable as they seem. The latest one: A no- interest period offer. This offer allows you to carry forward the outstanding amount, for a specific time without paying any interest.

This may seem very attractive, as the bank is allowing free revolving credit. But there are a few factors that customers must keep in mind, or else they could end up losing money. Let us look how this facility can be turned into a benefit.

Unnecessary spending

The option to carry forward the outstanding amount without any interest could lead the card holder to use the card recklessly and spend too much. This should be avoided.

Keep your spending under control because the amount has to be paid back at some point of time. Remember that this is not extra cash flow but is in the nature of a loan with a limited interest- free period.

Customers should take a holistic look at their ability to pay and ensure that the total spends do not cross the figure that is reasonable. If not, it can put a burden on their finances and they will find it very difficult to pay off the credit card dues. Hence, at all times, keep a tight check on the credit card spends.

Period of benefit

Keep in mind that the interest- free period is time bound. So, it could be that if your payment is due on April 15, you may get time to clear your dues by payments by May. This means that during this period if you carry forward the payment, there will be no interest charged. But if you don't clear the dues beyond that period, then the interest charges will kick in, with effect from the first payment due date. Assume the payment is due on April 15, with the no- interest period ending on May 15. If you miss the May 15 deadline, you will be charged interest from April 15. This will negate the benefit of no- interest. Banks charge very high interest rates on credit cards, usually between three to four cent per month.

On an annual basis this translates into 36- 48 per cent per year.

Minimum payment

To avail the interest- free period benefit, often the conditions will require the cardholder to pay the minimum amount. If this amount is not paid, it will be considered as a default. In such a case, the no- interest rule will not apply and the bank will start charging interest rates immediately. The minimum amount may be small, but it is important that it be paid if you want to enjoy the benefits of the no- interest period.

Don't make it a habit

The interest- free period should be treated only as a short- term measure. It should be used only in case you are short of funds in one particular month. If so, then defer payment of your credit card dues. But ensure that you have sufficient funds to pay off the dues in time for your next payment cycle. Don't make it a habit of carrying forward amounts on your credit cards because the interest costs can be very high. Remember that banks would like customers to use the revolving credit facility because that is one way for them to earn interest income. But customers must avoid this temptation.

Usage limit

All credit cards have a usage limit or spend limit, depending on the kind of card. These limits can be as low as 50,000 and could also run into lakhs of rupees for high end cards. This limit is restored after every billing cycle. But if you do not repay the outstanding, then the limit gets used up. Only when you pay the dues will the limit be restored again. So, cardholders have to be careful while deferring the payments. If you have utilised the no interest offer, and are planning a big- ticket purchase the next month, then repay on time so that the entire usage limit will be available.

When you come across such offers make sure you read the fine print very carefully. The benefit of such a facility is that it offers you an additional credit period, but there is the risk of overspending. This means incurring extra interest rate cost. It may not make much of a difference, in case your spends are not too much. Look at all these factors carefully before deciding whether to take up the offer or not.

For further information contact Prajna Capital on 94 8300 8300 by leaving a missed call

Leave a missed Call on 94 8300 8300

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at

PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

---------------------------------------------

Invest Mutual Funds Online

Invest Any Mutual Fund Online

Download Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Mutual Any Fund Application Forms

---------------------------------------------

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Franklin India Bluechip
      4. ICICI Prudential Top 100 Fund

B. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online

      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
      4. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
      5. Franklin India Prima

C. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online

      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
      5. Birla Sun Life Dividend Yield Plus
      6. SBI Emerging Businesses Fund
      7. HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund
      8. ICICI Prudential Discovery Fund

D. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online

      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund

2.Franklin India Smaller Companies

E. Sector Funds Invest Online

      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
      3. ICICI Prudential Banking and Financial Services Fund

F. Tax Saver Mutual Funds Invest Online

1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan

2. HDFC Taxsaver

      1. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      2. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund

G. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online

      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund
      4. Birla Sun Life Gold

H. International funds Invest Online

1. Birla Sun Life International Equity Plan A

2. DSP BlackRock US Flexible Equity

3. FT India Feeder Franklin US Opportunities

4. ICICI Prudential US Bluechip Equity

5. Motilal Oswal MOSt Shares NASDAQ-100 ETF

No comments:

Post a Comment

Mutual Fund Application Forms Download Any Applications
Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds Invest Online
Infrastructure Bond Application Forms Download Applications

Popular Posts

Mutual Fund Application Forms Download Any Applications
Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds Invest Online
Infrastructure Bond Application Forms Download Applications