Having a credit card is much easier and safer than carrying large amounts of cash with you.  But are the credit cards in your wallet really offering you the best deal?

To find out, start by asking yourself how you use your credit card(s). If you pay your balance in full every month, interest rate isn’t an important consideration. Instead, look for a card with no/low fees and a 20 to 30 day grace period. However if you’re among the other 82%of college students that already have a balance, be sure to do your homework and shop credit card rates.

The good news is that often you can transfer your existing balance from a high interest rate card to your credit union low rate credit card for little or no cost and realize instant savings.

For the Freebies

Don’t forget to also consider rewards. Some cards allow you to build points with every purchase towards free gift cards, merchandise or airline miles. Check with your credit union to see what rewards programs they offer.

Plus, Build Good Credit

Remember every time you use your credit card and then pay off the balance, you’re building yourcredit. Not sure what your credit rating is? Just contact the credit reporting bureaus. They are required by federal law to provide you with one free copy of your credit report per year upon request:

Equifax

www.equifax.com

Experian

www.experian.com

TransUnion

www.transunion.com