No news is good news. With experts predicting the next move is up, the news that interest rates remain at a record low of 1.5%pa is positive for people with mortgages.
As August is the last official month of winter, it’s a good time for financial reflection. For example – have you had an in-depth look at your credit cards recently? You may be surprised at what you find. Spend some time in the next few weeks looking over your options using these six steps:
What you owe
Write down the total of your credit card debts. How much per month do you pay on them?
Credit limit
If you find yourself using a card ‘because you can’, you may want to reduce the credit limit to avoid temptation.
Interest rates
If you have more than one card, which one has the highest interest rate? It may make sense to pay off the cards that have the highest interest rates as soon as possible.
Dormant cards
Do you have a card you don’t use anymore but you still pay a yearly fee on? Get rid of the card asap – it’s costing you money to keep ‘just in case’.
Set up a regular monthly payment
Don’t rely on your memory – you can set up regular payments in your online accord, or arrange with the credit card company to set up a direct debt. That way, you’ll avoid late payment fees (and your credit history will remain spotless).
Consolidate your debt
There are a number of cards that you can move the balance from your other cards that are interest free – for a period of time. Do some research to find the best one for you, and ensure you can pay off the balance before the interest free period expires (these cards typically have very high interest rates once it kicks over).
This review and revision process can let you enter the spring season with a refreshed, more positive financial outlook.
As always, your mortgage broker is available to help you with all your finance needs.