Don’t let 0% offers result in maxed-out cards

Dear Liz: I’m trying to transfer some credit card balances to existing accounts that are now offering 0% for 12 to 18 months. If I come close to maxing out the credit limit using one of those offers, will that affect my credit score adversely? Or, should I open up a new card, since I’ve gotten several 0% offers recently?

Answer: Using all or even most of your credit line on any revolving account can hurt your credit scores.

Although opening a new card may ding your scores a few points, it’s usually preferable to spread your debt over several accounts rather than pile it all on one card. This advice assumes you plan to use these offers to pay off your debt as rapidly as possible, rather than as an excuse to continue carrying balances.

If you can’t pay off your balances before the teaser rates expire, consider getting a three-year personal loan from your local credit union and using that to get free of debt. The interest rate you pay may be somewhat higher initially but you’ll likely save money in the long run.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Preparing your home for the winter months. Also in the news: Common credit card myths, how to save on your Thanksgiving travel, and what you shouldn’t buy on Black Friday.

Seven Essential Home Maintenance Tips for Winter
Preparing your home for the cold months ahead.

5 Common Credit Card Myths
Time for some mythbusting.

Money Saving Tips For Thanksgiving Travel 2013
Going over the river and through the woods doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

How to prepare your ‘retirement landing’
Avoiding turbulence as you approach the runway.

13 Things Not to Buy on Black Friday
Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean it’s a bargain.

Debit cards can be riskier than credit cards

Dear Liz: I’m in my early 30s and never carry cash. I charge everything on my debit card. This seems to be a topic of discussion in my office. My co-worker keeps getting his identity stolen and says that using debit cards to pay for everything wreaks havoc on your finances. He says I should use my credit card instead. I just finished paying off all the expenses that creep up when buying a house and really don’t want to start using credit cards again. I don’t think I’d be as good as keeping track of where my money goes when it’s not coming automatically out of my account. But I don’t want to end up losing it all now that identity theft is running rampant. What’s the best solution here?

Answer: What you like most about your debit card — that the charges come directly out of your checking account — is also its greatest flaw. A bad guy who gets access to your account can drain it, and you’re left fighting to get your money back.

Contrast that with fraud on a credit card: You’re not required to pay the disputed charges while the credit card issuer investigates.

That doesn’t mean you should never use a debit card, but you should avoid using it in higher-risk situations. Using a debit card for online purchases isn’t smart, because your computer could be compromised with malware and because merchants often store purchase information in less-than-secure databases.

You also shouldn’t hand your debit card to anyone who could take it out of your sight, such as a waiter at a restaurant, since that person can swipe it through a device called a skimmer to steal the card’s relevant information before handing it back to you. Gas stations and outdoor ATMs can be risky as well, since criminals can more easily install devices to swipe your information than at more protected, better supervised locations.

Even at trusted merchants, though, things can go wrong. Tampered debit card terminals at Michaels craft stores allowed thieves to access customers’ bank accounts.

Using a credit card clearly has advantages, and doesn’t have to be an invitation to debt. Most issuers allow you to set up text and email alerts that let you know when balances exceed limits you set. Apps on your smartphone can help you keep track of charges as well.

Vigilance is the key to limiting the damage caused by identity theft. You should review transactions regularly on all your credit and bank accounts, regardless of what method you choose to pay.

Finally, keep in mind that debit cards do nothing to improve your credit scores, since debit cards are not attached to credit accounts. Light but regular use of credit cards can help achieve good scores, which in turn will save you money on mortgages, auto loans, utility deposits and, in most states, insurance premiums. You don’t need to carry a balance to have good scores, so exercising a little discipline in tracking your balances and paying them in full each month can save you money.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Child and cashWhat to do when your adult kids ask for money, the bad side of credit card cash advances, and how the debt ceiling debacle could hit your wallet.

How to Handle Loan Request From Adult Kids
Carefully maneuvering a potential minefield.

4 Dangers of Credit Card Cash Advances
The fees alone should make you think twice.

Here’s How You’ll Make and Save Money in the Future
Are Bitcoins and crowdfunding the wave of the future?

You Can Raise Secure Kids Even in This Financially Insecure Time
Preparing your kids for what lies ahead.

4 Ways a Debt Ceiling Crisis Could Affect You
How the debate in Washington could have a serious affect on your personal finances.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailProtecting yourself from insurance fraud, the best time to close a credit card, and when straying from your monthly budget can be a good thing.

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Don’t let your new purchase become a money pit.

Eight Ways to Help Protect Yourself From Insurance Fraud
How to avoid becoming a victim.

How aging impacts our financial decisions
Some of the first warning signs of cognitive decline can be found in how we manage our finances.

Is There Ever a Good Time to Close a Credit Card?
The answer may surprise you.

When Trying to Stick to a Monthly Budget Just Doesn’t Make Sense
Preparing for life’s stumbling blocks.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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The answer may surprise you.

Smart Financial Moves for Fall
Ways to boost your finances in between pumpkin spice lattes.

Home Improvement Projects Every Seller Should Consider
These projects could increase the number of offers you receive on your home.

Want Your Child To Succeed? A Savings Account May Help
How even a small savings account could set your child on the road to financial success.

Obamacare marketplaces are open: How to apply
A reporter shares her experience of applying for insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Credit Check 1 How to cure your financial jealousy, steps to improve your credit score, and understanding the Affordable Care Act.

How to Combat Financial Envy
The greener grass isn’t always the better grass.

5 Budget Busters Draining Your Wallet
Simple changes to monthly expenses could make a big difference.

5 Steps to Improving Your Credit Score
Paying attention to your credit reports are key.

4 Ways to Build Credit Without a Credit Card
Loans can be a big help.

Obamacare 101: Your Questions Answered
Understanding the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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How to Develop the Hireable Skills You’ll Actually Need After College
Learning skills that will pay off in both the job and the real world.

What Mike Tyson Can Teach Us About Retirement
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Does Getting Approved for a Credit Card Help Your Credit Score?
How opening a new credit card can help your credit score.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Offering AdviceControlling shared credit card use, the pros and cons of a high-deductible health plan, and ways to save while grocery shopping.

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Setting boundaries for shared credit cards. r

6 Tips for Navigating the New Health Insurance Exchanges
Don’t be intimidated by the new health exchnages.

Is a high-deductible health plan right for you?
When choosing a high-deductible plan makes the most sense.

Break the spell of spending mindlessly
Tips on how to become a conscious spender.

How to Trim Your Food Budget
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Helping family led to unpayable debts

Dear Liz: I have $40,000 in credit card debt due to home healthcare I had to provide for my mom, who lived with me for six years before she passed away in 2011. I filed a Veterans Affairs claim on her behalf but just got a VA check for $344 with no explanation about whether this was all it was going to allow. If it is, I need to file for bankruptcy. I owe $18,000 on my mortgage and $32,000 on a home equity loan I took out in 2001 to help my son get on his feet after he finished graduate school and had his first child. I also had some credit card debt from helping my brother in 2009 when he had cancer and could not work and his wife left him so he had no income. I also have $20,000 in a money market account that I call my retirement fund. Is it protected if I were to file for bankruptcy? The economic downturn caused me to have to take a $700-a-month pay cut the first of this year that will reduce my annual salary to $55,000 if there are no more cuts or layoffs. If they were to close the business completely, my Social Security benefit will be $1,900 per month, compared with $3,400 that I take home now. I have always paid my bills, but Mom’s medical expenses really have taken a toll on my finances.

Answer: Your debt exceeds your income, and few people in that situation manage to pay off what they owe. But bankruptcy isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card. Your home equity and your savings could be at risk. Had you actually put your money into a qualified retirement account, such as an IRA or a 401(k), it would have been protected from creditors. Just calling an account your retirement fund offers no protection whatsoever. A bankruptcy attorney familiar with the laws of your state can tell you what to expect. You can get a referral from the National Assn. of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys at http://www.nacba.org.

You also need to call the VA at (877) 222-VETS, or (877) 222-8387, to find out whether you can expect any more help. The VA does offer some long-term care benefits to veterans and their spouses who qualify for the aid. The time to request help, though, was when your mother was still alive.

Which leads us to the problem of your spending money you didn’t have to help people who may well have had other options. If your mother couldn’t get VA help, she may have had assets that could have paid for assistance. If not, she might have qualified for long-term care benefits through Medicaid, the federal healthcare plan for the indigent. Your brother also may have qualified for federal or state benefits. Your son may have had a rough time getting established, but he had a degree and a working lifetime ahead of him.

That doesn’t mean you should have thrown family members to the wolves. But it’s not clear you considered any other options before turning to credit. Sites such as Benefits.gov and the Eldercare Locator at http://www.eldercare.gov could have connected you and your family to resources that might have helped. Other family members may have been able to pitch in, or the people involved may have had assets to tap. If there truly were no other options, your assistance should have come out of your current income. If you have to borrow, then you really can’t afford to help.

As it is, your generosity has left you at the threshold of retirement with little savings and big debts. Let’s hope your family is as willing to help you in your old age as you were to help them.