If you are chipping away at a mountain of credit card debt, you might feel like it is a never-ending task. Part of the reason it can be hard to gain ground is high interest rates that continually add to your bottom line. If you are looking at a pile of debt with a sky-high rate, a balance transfer might be a good option for you.
While transferring credit card balances will not magically make your debt disappear, if handled correctly, this strategy can be helpful. The key is to know what you are getting into and make a plan to take advantage of the benefits offered by a transfer.
Doing a balance transfer to a card with a lower rate or a promotional rate can potentially save a family hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars in interest and fees. With the average household having more than $12,600 in credit card debt, the savings can be substantial.
But not all offers are created equal – pay attention to fees and fine print before you make the transfer. Here are some steps to consider when transferring credit card balances:
Step one: Get to know the fees
Always look for balance transfer fees, which are calculated as a percentage of the total transfer amount. These fees can lower savings or even end up costing you money if you are only transferring a small balance. Determine how much these fees will cost you and compare that number to the savings that will come from a lower interest rate.
Step two: Understand the promotional rate
Most balance transfers offer a low promotional rate that increases after a certain period of time. For example, you may be paying 1.99 percent for the first six months, and then the card will revert to a more standard rate. Some cards have standard rates as high as 23.99 percent. A hike like that could hurt you financially if the card still has a significant balance when the promotional rate ends. If you opt to transfer a credit card balance, do your best to pay as much as possible during the promotional period, and look for a card with a reasonable rate after the introductory period ends.
Also, keep in mind that the promotional rate will apply to the amount that is transferred, not to new purchases. Additionally, payments made above the minimum are applied to the balance with the higher interest rate first. Be careful not to charge a lot of new purchases to the card – doing so can make it hard to put a dent in your debt.
Step three: Stay on top of repayments
Remember that you pursued a balance transfer as a way to get out of debt faster, not to take on more. Psychologically, people sometimes feel like “clearing” a credit card with a balance transfer erases that debt, so they continue charging on the older card. Instead of falling into that trap, create a repayment plan that uses the lower balance transfer rate as a motivational force. Your larger goal should always be to eliminate credit card debt, not shuffle it around endlessly and rack up more fees and interest as a result.
When taking a look at the various offers, consider Cobalt CU’s credit card balance transfer option.
It is not a silver bullet, but when used strategically, transferring a credit card balance can be a tool to help you manage your debt. Be sure to read the fine print and understand the terms of your new credit card. Then work within those terms to start gaining real traction on your road to becoming debt-free.
Want more insights into how to handle credit like a pro? Download our free e-book, The Building Blocks of Credit.
