Best credit cards, and what Ive learned
The new, higher interest rate applies retroactively to all your purchases, so even if you charged an item when your interest rate was zero, at the end of the introductory period you must pay 13 percent (or 19 percent, or 30 percent) until your entire balance is paid off. If you let your interest compound, you can wind up paying two or three times as much as the original sticker price. The key to disappointing a credit card company and keeping your wallet fat is to get the card with the lowest regular interest rate, then watch your spending as though you were already paying the full regular rate on your purchases. To find a credit card's real interest rate, look for the fine print or for a chart that illustrates the rates. Find the standard purchase annual percentage rate (APR) and the standard cash advance APR.