For easy reference, Web sites mentioned are hyperlinked here as well as within the text of the column. If you don't like credit card bills you can switch to a debit card which offers the convenience of sucking funds from your account instantly when you make a purchase instead of waiting for you to go through the end of the month anxiety attacks. In fact, the virtual reality of online commerce is beginning to bend even a banker's imagination. It's now possible to apply for a credit card online and 30 seconds later be ordering merchandise online that is charged to the card you didn't even have a minute before. After approval the new virtual card holder can work the upgrades and earn rewards that include airline miles and merchandise rebates for purchases both online and off.
Every card offers special opportunities.
Some offer no annual fees. Others offer special low introductory rates that later jump as if propelled from a trampoline. What savvy consumers really need to know is what's available now and how it compares to what they already have. This is the place to come if you're looking for your first credit card or your last. You'll certainly get the low-down on how your current card stacks up against the marketplace.