In today’s society, it’s so easy to get access to credit; and because of this, consumers are drowning in debt up to their necks. Being $20,000 in debt is typical in today’s society!

Due to the fact that consumer debt is at an all-time high, more and more people want to be informed of helpful and trusted tips to rebuild credit history. Most of the time, when people hear the word “budget,” they think of having to starve themselves and an almost non-existent social life. Lucky for you, having an effective plan for managing your debt and of course maintaining healthy personal credit and credit scores, by using certain types of credit cards, will definitely assist with meeting your financial goals.

For some consumers, these types of credit cards may be the main solution, because they are very effective, and some consumers aren’t able to get a traditional credit card, or even open a bank account. This day and age, most households have both parents working, so that there are two incomes supporting the family, which of course means there’s slim to no time for creating budgets or researching solutions for maintaining a higher credit score.

They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Let’s take our first step and evaluate both secured and pre-paid credit cards and the pros and cons of each for your situation.

a.) Secured Credit Cards

Advantages- Having a secured credit card is a very easy and cost effective way to build your credit. These secured credit cards can also rebuild and improve damaged credit reports. They work exactly like a traditional credit card.

Disadvantages- One of the major issues with this type of cards, is that in order to “secure” the card, you have to deposit anywhere from $200 to $300 when you apply. This can be a pretty hefty requirement. They also have much higher interest rates (15% and up), additional fees like annual fees that may cost about $50. This card, despite its minor setbacks, is a great option for those who want to rebuild their credit.

Pre-Paid Credit Cards

Advantages- Pre-Paid Credit Cards are a very useful tool, because they give you all of the flexibility and freedom of using your own money. They look, feel, and spend just like a real credit card; they can be used in any occasion that you would use a regular credit card. With these cards, you determine how much money you would like in the account by “loading” money, instead of the company offering you a credit limit based on your financial history. Almost everyone can be approved for this type of card, and yes….even if you’ve had a bad credit past.

Negatives-This may not be the best choice if you’re looking to establish or rebuild your credit. Pre-Paid cards may not report your repayment history to the credit bureaus. If the company doesn’t report back on your account, this type of card, unfortunately, will not improve your credit. If you look at all of your options available, and compare cards based on your needs, you’ll be just fine.

Please remember that Pre-Paid cards cannot be used in every situation. Hotel and car rental agencies, for example, may not let you use the pre-paid card to book a room or secure your rental. Just be sure to call in advance and ask about the company policy before you begin your booking.

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Consumer advocate Linda Seamore is dedicated to educating people on how to protect their identity. After much research on identity theft and its victims, she found out about Life Lock , the industry leader in ID theft protection. Life Lock is a proactive identity theft protection agency. Visit www.LifeLock.com and discover how to protect yourself.

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