Always pay your credit card balance every month

Typically you're the type of person who uses a credit card for buying the weekly shop or petrol and likes to pay the balance in full at the end of every month. In these circumstances, the interest rate is not important as many cards include an interest free period, usually up to 59 days, from the date you made the purchase. This means you'll have cleared the debt before the interest rate can be applied.

Select a card with no annual fee and choose from the either a cash back or reward scheme. There are many different types of these schemes and some work out better than others. To ensure your card payments are made in full every month why not set up a direct debit for the full amount on your current account.

Card	Rewards	SVR
Virgin 0%	Virgin Points	16.9%	Apply here
Lloyds TSB Platinum		15.9%	Apply here
American Express Nectar	Nectar Points	18.9%	Apply here
Halifax Credit Cards		15.9%	Apply here
GM Card	1% against a new Vauxhall	14.9%	Apply here
Egg Visa	Upto 10% off online purchases	16.9%	Apply here
Natwest	Airmiles	16.9%	Apply here

CB & R= Cash back and Rewards | SVR = Standard variable rate