What is a Credit Card Calculator, how to use it, and what are its types?

How to pay a certain amount using the Credit Card Calculator?

In the calculator, add the necessary information, like the Credit Card Balance.
The interest rate and minimum to maximum payment. It will calculate the amount one needs to pay in a specific period to clear off the balance. The Credit Card Calculator will help you understand the amount you must pay at the end of every month.

How to pay within a certain time frame?

In this, the calculator will ask you the Credit Card Balance, Interest Rate, and Payback(It is the time frame) and calculate the amount. The amount must be paid per the time frame to clear the loans.

What is a Credit Card?

It is a small plastic card provided by a bank or financial institution. The credit card owner can purchase or withdraw through the credit card. It is a type of unsecured loan from the owner. Credit comes with a maximum credit limit. It is only crucial not to surpass it. The credit card owner must pay the credit card limit fee if any credit holder exceeds the credit limit.

At the end of the month, the credit card owner has to repay the amount used. However, they can also leave it unpaid, subject to interest, until the whole amount is paid off.

Credit card interest is usually high compared to mortgages and other loans. It is good to pay off the amount monthly to avoid serious charges at the end of the month.

Some examples of credit card issuers are banks, credit unions, and retailers. Visa and MasterCard own the credit card networks. Even American Express and Discovers are both issuers and networks of Credit cards. Networks charge a small fee of 3 percent to handle and process transactions. The issuers of credit cards make profits by interest payments on revolving balances, late fees, withdrawal amounts, and interchange fees.

What is an APR?

Different credit cards offer different rates of interest. It is often referred to as the annual percentage rate. It is called APR. Some credit cards have variable APRs that are based on specific indexes. The others are fixed . Some credit cards are specifically designed and advertised as having a zero annual percentage rate.

Cash Advances and more

It is possible to withdraw profits or credits in the form of physical cash through a credit card. It is called a cash advance. They have high APR. But it doesn't have a grace period because interest accumulates. Cash advances don't count as rewards. It has a cash fee in terms of advance fees. Upon this, even the ATM will also charge a fee. Moreover, credit card cash advances are not at all profitable or advantageous. It should be only reserved for emergencies.

How do you transfer Balances?

One can transfer credit balances from one card to another. People who hold revolving credit can consider applying for a good balance transfer credit card. It is good to enroll in the form of a zero or low introductory rate.

So consider a spender who has much debt on high-interest rewards and could wish to apply for a credit card. The one with a claims balance transfer card. It comes with a period of interest fees and accumulated debt.

The interest-free period is usually from 6-12 months. Then the credit requires payment of interest on the principal amount. Some credit cards charge a fee of 3-4% on the total amount transferred. Avoid the less or zero interest because it provides a bigger financial incentive.

Balance transfers don't count towards rewards or features related to cashback.

Many people make use of debit cards. It functions similarly to a credit card. Banks or financial institutions provide debit cards with checking accounts. It allows purchases or withdrawals that are deducted directly from the checking account.

Mostly there is no fee associated with debit card purchases. Some withdrawals under certain circumstances but not applicable in foreign countries or can't withdraw from third-party ATMs.

Some advantages of Credit cards.

Different credit cards come with different advantages. Some of them are listed below.

In the form of a loan: Spending via credit card is spending on the credit. It means money is borrowed. So if the credit card holder wants to make a purchase but doesn't have sufficient funds, they can pay back with the help of a credit card. The borrowed amount can be paid later.

Safe and convenient: It is always better to carry a card than cash. It is also safe in terms of theft. Transactions made via stolen credit card are not viable on the credit card holder because stolen cash is a loss for the person who owned it.

No Fraud: In case of a fraudulent charge, the issuer is responsible, not the credit card holder, according to the Fair Credit Card Billing Act. The fraudulent charge on a credit card for the credit card holder is a maximum of $50. But many credit cards have zero liability on fraudulent transactions. It is very evident in cases when the card is stolen. The holder makes a transaction with a merchant or while disputing a transaction. In the case of a debit card, the holder goes through the difficult task of sorting out situations by themselves to retrieve the lost amount.

Discount: Not all debit cards have cash back feature on all transactions. It is common for credit cards. Because they carry a discount of a percent in the form of transactions, some cards offer 2 percent. Like, assume a person has an expense of $3000 by using a credit card that offers 2% cash back on translations. The person saves $720 a year just by using it.

Protection on Purchase: All credit cards offer some purchase protection. It is put in place to protect the cardholder from certain transactions. The types of protection purchased vary. Some of them are listed below:

• It offers a new price on goods and commodities since the price drops.
• It removes the holder's liability on the purchase of goods and commodities which are damaged or lost. But not all items are covered. It is better to offer terms and agreements. Even better to contact customer care for more such details.
• Extension of warranty provided by the manufacturers. It is for one or two years. The limit of each claim is usually $10,000, and it comes with an annual cap of $50,000. Mostly the new items should have a manufacturer warranty of a year or two.
• Ensuring a refund even if the merchant doesn't accept the refund. Sometimes, the card issuers give 60-90 days to file a request. But items like jewelry and tickets should be covered.

Perks: Credit cards sure come with perks. It varies from a different issuer. However, credit cards with annual fees have more perks and benefits. Now a credit card with no annual fees assists with towing, replacement of tires, and more. A credit card with a $ 450 fee annually also covers fuel delivery and other services. Some of them are listed below.

Rental Insurance: Rental cars can be insured. A credit card is used to reimburse for the rental insurance. The entire rental amount can be spent by credit card.

Tickets for Concerts: Some credit cards often offer presale concert tickets before they are out for sale. It comes in very handy as later the prices are high.

Assistance on the Roadside: Credit Card offers emergency assistance for credit cards stuck on the roadside. It is similar to the AAA membership.

Travel insurance- Travelers often feel the need to cancel or book a particular flight. It could be due to sickness or any other situation. It results in a financial loss. Some credit cards offer perks on trip cancellation. However, it is possible only on some credit cards.

Luggage and Free Admission- If the luggage is stolen or lost, the entire purchase is paid for by a credit card using the lost protection. Some credit cards may check the bag fees. Even visiting or admission to museums or art galleries is free to some card members. It is usually limited only to the first month or week.

Good Credit Rating Score: By using credit cards well, they can improve their credit card score. It results in drastic savings. Suppose one thinks of purchasing a house or car. Best credit cards allow excess credit cards with numerous rewards and many perks.

While holding a credit card has some advantages, it also has cons. Some disadvantages of Credit Cards are given below.

Some users are quite impulsive and can get themselves into financial trouble even though a credit card holder can use the credit card recklessly or carelessly. They can be suddenly confronted with payments that cannot be paid at the end of the month. In this, the issuers are on the practical side because they make profits. It not only gets one into financial trouble but the credit score is also affected negatively due to late or no payments.

In this, the credit card holder falls into the trap of debt. It is called debt consolidation. A method of combining debt under a new line of credit. It is only temporary relief.

If people find themselves in a situation, they should consider getting a secured credit card. The usage should be done wisely to repair the damage to the credit score. One can make use of the Credit Card Payoffs Calculator.

However, no responsible use of credit cards results in debt. But if they are used responsibly and wisely. It is an excellent choice to make payments.

Let's understand different types of Credit Cards.

Different types of users need different types of credit cards. It is only wise to find what goes well with a user's requirements and financial needs. Suppose a person is not an extravagant spender but likes big money as cashback and can opt for a no-fee cashback card. Also, an individual can carry multiple credit cards for different uses. It requires a little management. The main condition is to clear off the charges timely.

The types are as follows:

Cashback Credit Card: This Credit card offers cashback on all purchases. It is usually 1-2%. Some may go up to 5%cashback on selected categories like merchandise.

Rewards: It bulks up most of the credit cards. But they have no spending limits or high limits. Even the balances can be tossed from one month to other. The holder should pay off the entire amount by the end of the month. The one advantage of having a credit card is heavy spending on a charge card. It is only on the holder's side if the amount is paid at the end of every month.

Transferring balance: It is best for spenders who carry a lot of credit card debt, as the interest rate on the card in the future only doubles. It's possible to transfer the balance from one card to another. Most credit cards carry low or zero introductory APR. It is for a period of 6-21 months. So it allows the cardholder to roll the balance from one card to another with a significant APR.

Secured Credit Card: A type of credit card preferable for young people. Since they have no credit score, one must make a security deposit to enroll and receive a secured credit card. It acts as collateral. So if the individual claims to be financially responsible with a security card and doesn't use it, they can close the account and get their deposit back.

Prepaid Credit Card: It is similar to a debit card. Since it already has an amount that can be used, a person can't exceed it. They are reloadable cards with multi-use or single-use. They are gifted or mailed by companies as compensation or rewards.

Store Credit Cards: Some retail stores give credit cards that offer big discounts. Usually offered in a department store by the cashier during the checkout, it is discounted by 10% on the total purchase. It is in favor of the users who shop at the stores. But remember, interest rates are higher than any other cards.

Business Credit Cards: Some cards are designed for business purposes. They offer discounts on products and services. It is for businesses to track expenses, emergency travel assistance, medical needs, or agent services associated with travel. Business Credit Cards are different from personal expenses.

Let's underhand how to calculate Interest charges issued on Credit Cards.

Daily Balance Method

The Credit card issuer Calculates the interest paid monthly. It is called the average daily method or ADB method.

Now months differ in length. Credit card issuers use a periodic rate or DPR. Hence with this, they calculate the Interest Rate or charges.

DPR is found by dividing APR by 365. It is the number of days in a year.

DPR=APR/365

Now find the ADB. The equation to calculate ADB is more difficult. So add up all the balances in a billing cycle and divide it by the total number of days in the billing cycle.

ADB=(Day 1 Balance)+(Day 2 Balance)+()+()../Nos of Days in Billing cycle

Lastly, multiply the DPR to find the interest on the monthly statement.

Monthly interest payment=DPR×APR×Nos of days in the Billing Cycle

Now let's consider this as an example.

John wants to calculate the interest amount on one of his credit cards for June. It has an APR of 15%. Calculate the DPR.

DPR =  0.15÷365 = 0.00041

In the first 15 days of the billing cycle, the balance was $500. In the midway of the month, John paid $100. So now, for the other 15 days, the amount is $400

Let's find out the ADB with the above formula.

ADB =  15 × 500 + 15 × 400÷30 = $450

Now multiply DPR, ADB, and the number of days in the billing cycle to find the monthly interest amount or payment(MIP)

MIP= = 0.00041 × 450 × 30 = $5.54

So John's interest amount for June is $5.54.

There are other formulas, and ways credit card issuers calculate the monthly interest amount or payment. It includes the previous balance method and the adjusted, balanced method. But it's used sparingly. But let's learn about it further.

Now let's understand about Previous Balance Method

Multiply the DPR by the nos of days in the billing cycle of the previous month.

Monthly Interest Payment is= 0.00041 × 300 × 30 = $3.69

What is the Adjusted Balance Method?

Multiply DPR by the Adjusted Balance . It is the previous month's balance amount. Multiply the amount by the number of days in the billing cycle. Here consider John's balance for the month of April is $300. But he paid $200 in total.

Monthly interest payment or amount = 0.00041 × (300 - 200) × 30 = $1.23

The total calculation of monthly payments allows the issuers to charge a minimum payment. It is an interest amount. It is important to pay the amount. If a cardholder doesn't pay the amount, the card can be canceled. Remember, the credit score can go down too.

A credit card with zero or low introductory APR and the interest is high. These credit cards 'APRs are an average of 20 percent. It is high for any loan. Beneficial APR is in the 8-12% range. But someone with a good credit score can have lower rates. It's because the credit debt is unsecured. Hence there is no collateral backing on loan. So if the borrower denies it, the lender cannot seize any assets. The cons are that it comes at a higher interest rate. But secured debt requires collateral like property. In case the borrower denies secured debt. The lender can seize the assets and take possession.