Where to start with credit cards

Lionellooking25

Hi, I have managed to get into late 40's without ever having a credit card. I am travelling more these days and unsure which card would be the best for that, plus plan on using one for a larger purchase. Do I go for 0% interest or zero fees for spending abroad, or is there one that covers all?  #clueless.

Emmia

If you want to use it abroad, then look for one that's zero fees abroad. Points etc., are nice but the key to cc usage is paying in full every month.  You should also consider acceptability - VISA and MasterCard are widely accepted, Amex is good but not quite as acceptable - I have a Visa and an Amex.

I'd have a go at the MSE eligibility checker to identify likely options and then redo the check on the providers own site to confirm the likelihood of acceptance.

CliveOfIndia

I'd concur with the previous poster - for foreign spending, go for one that doesn't charge FX fees.  Depending on how much you're spending, the FX fees imposed by many cards can quickly start to mount up.

Lionellooking25 said:

plan on using one for a larger purchase.

For this there are two approaches.  If you can afford to repay it in full when the statement arrives, then go for a card that offers rewards (cashback, points, whatever).  If you're wanting to spread the cost then you'd need a 0% purchases card (remembering that you must repay it in full when the 0% promotional rate expires).

Mark_d

I have a BA Premium Plus card and a Barclaycard Avios Plus card. I put all retail transactions on one of these cards and use my Kroo bank card with cash withdrawals at home and abroad.

Some people do clever things with lots of different credit cards but I prefer to keep things simple

On-the-coast

All my credit cards are zero interest because I always pay them off in full - suggest you take same approach.  There are better ways if you’re looking to borrow. 

PRAISETHESUN

If you've never had any credit before then it's likely you'll struggle to qualify for any decent cards. Definitely recommend you use eligibility checkers to see what you may/may not be eligible for. You might need to start off with credit (re)building cards. They have horrible APRs and small limits, but as long as you manage them correctly you'll soon be eligible for better cards with higher limits. APR doesn't really matter since you'll (hopefully) always be paying them off in full each month.

After that you then need to focus on exactly you want to get out of the card. Something like the Barclays Reward CC is good for overseas spending and cashback on spending, other cards are good for 0% on big purchases. Would be worth having a think.

sausage_time

This a great starting place:  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/