Credit Cards: Reading the Fine Print

Girl holding a magnifying glass to her eye

Q: How do I read the fine print from my credit card issuer?

A: Fine print often has information you can’t afford to miss. Here’s the big deal on the small print found on credit card paperwork:

What do all those terms mean?

First, let’s take a look at 10 basic credit card terms that are important to know but are often misunderstood:

  • Accrued interest – The amount of interest incurred on the credit card balance as of a specific date.
  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – The rate of interest paid on a carried credit card balance each year.
  • Annual fee – The yearly fee a financial institution or credit card company charges you for having the card.
  • Balance – the amount of money owed on a credit card.
  • Billing cycle – The amount of time between the last statement closing date and the next one.
  • Cash advance – Money withdrawn from your credit card account, usually with higher interest rates and attached fees.
  • Credit limit – The maximum amount of money that can be charged to your credit card.
  • Grace period – The time the consumer has between making a purchase and being charged interest.
  • Late payment notice and fee – These will alert you to a missed payment and its fee for missing it.
  • Minimum payment – The smallest amount of money the consumer can pay each month to keep the account current and avoid fees.

Do I need to read the small print on my credit card application?

Those microscopic letters on your credit card application contain important information. Here are some common claims you might find on an application and what the small print below these claims actually says:

Claim: Sign-up bonus: $950!

Fine print: Must spend $3,000 on the card within the first three months of ownership.

Claim: Interest-free offer!

Fine print: Expires after 18 months, and then a 22.5% interest rate kicks in.

Claim: 0% balance transfer!

Fine print: But there is a $300 balance transfer fee.

Claim: Cash advance of up to $1,500!

Fine print: With 20% interest and a $200 cash-advance fee.

How do I find the fine print on my credit card application or statement? 

Read the fine print before you sign up for a credit card. You’ll find this information on the credit card’s paper or digital application under a label marked “Pricing and Terms” or “Terms and Conditions.” You can also find this information when researching credit cards online; it may be labeled as “Interest Rates and Fees” or “Offer Details.”

If you’ve already signed up for the card, you’ll find these conditions on the “Cardmember Agreement” that generally comes with a new credit card.

Your credit card statements will also have lots of fine print, though most of it will be on the back of the bill. The information there will include everything in your application, as well as some additional information about your monthly bill.

Your Turn: Have you ever regretted missing the fine print on your credit card paperwork? Tell us about it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. @FreedomFedCU

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is proud to be your financial partner. Freedom serves and is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school, volunteers, or has family in Harford or Baltimore County, MD. As a credit union, we are committed to putting you first, not shareholders, and helping you achieve your financial goals.

Learn more at freedomfcu.org/personal/credit-cards or call us 800-440-4120 to see how we can help. 

How Do I Give Myself an End-of-Year Financial Review?

Year End Financial Check Up

 

Freedom Federal Credit Union Recommends This 6-Step Financial Check-up Before 2021

Q: With 2020 drawing to a close, I’d love to give myself an end-of-year financial review before it goes.  Where do I begin?

A: Giving yourself an end-of-year financial review is a wonderful way to check on the progress you’ve made toward your goals, highlight areas needing improvement and update your accounts, funds and investments. Here’s all you need to know about this important end-of-year ritual from Freedom Federal Credit Union.

Step 1: Review all your debts and create a payoff plan

Take a few minutes to list all your debts and their interest rates. Have you made any real progress toward paying them off this year? Or have you stuck with minimal payments each month, leaving the actual balance to pile up since you’re mostly just paying for interest?

If your debt needs some help, you have two primary options for how to proceed:

  • The avalanche method. Focus on paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first, and then continue to the debt with the second-highest interest rate. Move through the list until you’ve paid off all debts.
  • The snowball method. Work your way through your debts, starting with the lowest-balance debt. Then, once it’s paid off, apply the payment that was previously committed to that debt to your new lowest debt. Repeat through the rest until all debts are paid off.

For both methods, be sure to pay the minimum balance on all your other debts each month. Try to boost your income and/or trim your monthly spending for extra cash and use it toward the first debt you are paying off completely.

 

Step 2: Automate your savings

Review your savings from 2020. Have you reached your goals? Have you forgotten to put money into savings each month?

Going forward, make it easy by automating your savings. Give us a call at to set up an automatic monthly transfer from your checking account to your savings account. [You can also set this up through your online and/or mobile banking with us.] This way, you’ll never forget to put money into savings again.

 

Step 3: Review the progress you have (or haven’t) made on financial goals

Have you made measurable progress toward your financial goals in 2020?

Take a few minutes to review your past goals, taking note of your progress and determining how you can move toward achieving them.

 

Step 4: Review your retirement account(s) and investments

As you work through this crucial step, be sure to review the following variables:

  • Your employer’s matching contributions. Are you taking advantage of this free money, or leaving some of it on the table?
  • The maximum IRA contribution limits for 2021. You will likely need to make adjustments for the coming year.
  • Management fees and expense ratios for your investments. Fees should ideally be less than 0.1%.
  • Your stock/bond ratio and investing style. You may want to take more risks in 2021 or decide to play it safer this year.
  • Your portfolio’s balance. Does it need adjusting?

 

Step 5: Create an ICE Binder

The events of 2020 underscored the importance of making plans in case one becomes incapacitated for any reason. Create an In-Case-of-Emergency (ICE) Binder to hold all your important documents in one place in case the unthinkable happens. Because of the sensitive nature of the information it holds, be sure to keep this in a safe place where it will not fall into the hands of identity thieves.

Include the following in your binder:

  • Medical information
  • Account information
  • Child care and pet care details
  • Online accounts and passwords
  • Insurance policy documentation and details
  • Investment accounts and details
  • A copy of your life insurance policy
  • A copy of your living will
  • A copy of your last will and testament

 

Step 6: Set new financial goals for 2021

As you finish reviewing your financial progress of the past year, look forward to accomplishing greater financial goals in the coming year.

A great way to turn dreams into reality is to set goals that are SMART:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

Here are some goals you may want to set for the coming year:

  • Create a monthly budget before January. Be sure to include all expense categories. Review on the first of each month and tweak as necessary.
  • Review the week’s spending with your partner each Friday night.
  • Pay off your largest credit card bill by 2022.
  • Start a vacation fund in February.
  • Cut out two subscriptions you don’t really use by mid-year.
  • Slash your weekly grocery bill by 10% before May.

Wishing you a financially healthy New Year!

Your Turn: Do you have any additional steps for your own end-of-year financial review?  Tell us about it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. @FreedomFedCU