With so many New Credit Cards Available, what's the Best Credit Card for me?

Cash back credit card, reward credit card, shopaholic credit card - credit cards that reward you with airline miles, and others that make a payment to your favorite charity every time you use them - with the plethora of credit cards available in the UK today, how in the world does one make a choice between them? Because there are so many different variables, it's impossible to say which credit card is the best one for you personally, but there are some ways that you can compare one credit card UK offer with another and choose the best one for your circumstances.

Let's start with company or brand name. You know the major names - Virgin, Marbles, the Egg, Morgan Stanley, MBNA to name just a few. They're all out for your business, and they're making things as attractive as possible for you. Here are a few things that don't matter:

• The color of your credit card. No matter how fashionable you'll feel flashing a Virgin Red or Black card, color does not get you a lower interest rate or fewer fees.
  
• Which celebrities use that credit card. Face it, you're not going to get the same terms and rates as the celebrity spokesperson. Don't choose your credit card because your favorite artist uses it.
  
• Cute names may make it easy to remember, but they won't really make much difference in your credit card bill.

On the other hand, there are some things that do make a rather large difference in which credit card you choose. Before you apply for a credit card, take the time to figure out your own personal spending habits and the reason that you want a credit card.

• If you will use a credit card to make major purchases and pay them off over time, look for a credit card with a low APR. Because you'll be carrying a balance from month to month, you'll be paying interest on that balance. A low rate of interest should be a major factor in your decision.
  
• If you use a credit card for convenience, but pay off the full balance every month, the interest rate isn't as important - though you should still consider it. Instead, look for a card that has low or no annual fees, and offers you cash back or rewards for using it.
  
• If you want a balance transfer credit card to move all of your credit card debt onto one card, look for the best combination of introductory and long-term APR. While a 0% introductory rate may seem attractive on the surface, it's important to look at the fine print for any conditions or fees that may make that 0% APR far more expensive than you anticipated.
  
• If you're prone to impulse buying, you may want a credit card with a low credit limit to help you limit your spending.
  
• Cash back or rewards? Again, it's a personal decision. If the rewards are in a form that you'll use (discounts at the petrol pump, perhaps? Special sales at your favorite shops?) a rewards credit card may offer you far more value.

Once you have an idea what sort of credit card you want, you can compare credit card features and offers at moneyeverything.com where you'll find information on all the best credit card UK offers available.