Best Credit Cards for You!

The credit cards wing of the largest lender of the country, State Bank of India along with public sector lender Bank of Maharashtra have tied up to launch a new co branded credit card for its customers.

“The credit card gives a sense of security for the customer but it is a challenge to run the business profitably,” said Diwakar Gupta, MD and CFO of State Bank of India.

This SBI-BOM card will be coming in two variants namely platinum and gold for the customers of Bank of Maharashtra.

The platinum card will entail an annual fee of Rs 2999. It would give 10 cash points for every Rs 100 on lifestyle activities like dining, departmental stores etc.

Full Post…

Tags: Card, Credit Card

Credit cards can certainly serve as a status symbol. Why do you think so many Visa commercials feature a James Bond-esque motif?

In particular, credit cards made of metal have long been a symbol of wealth and luxury. Now, such cards are extremely limited (many believe there are less than 10,000 in circulation), and they are generally distributed by invitation only.

The most notorious and mysterious metal card on the market is the Centurion Card by American Express. Typically known as the “Black Card,” this no-limit AMEX luxury is made of anodized titanium, has a minimum annual charge amount of $250,000, and a $2,500 yearly fee. You’re probably saying to yourself, “holy cow, who in their right mind would even be able to keep up with the minimum spend at $21K per month?” At least, that was my initial reaction, but apparently there are plenty of big spenders out there interested in showing off their shiny black metal credit card at the cash register.

So how can you get your hands on one of these jewels?

Full Post…

Tags: Cards, Credit Cards

The Office of Fair Trading has brought in new rules that will stop travel companies from charging hidden fees on cards when customers make bookings. There are many sites that require consumers to go through and complete a large number of pages before they get to the screen that shown them how much is going to be added to the price by way of a surcharge.

This is something that is typical with rail companies, airlines and ferry companies. However, things are set to change because the Office of Fair Trading has demanded that these travel companies make the charges clear right away before the consumer has to go to the trouble of completing five or six pages before they find out what they will actually be paying for their fare. The OFT is also eager to bring about new laws that will stop any additional charges being made altogether.

In 2010 travellers are said to have spent a staggering £300 million on card surcharges in the airline sector alone.

Full Post…

Tags: Card, Travel Companies

Fathers day is here again, and for most dads it will probably come and go with a card, a phone call, and maybe a bad tie. I admit that i do the same thing most years. This year I thought Id do something a little different. I thought Id write a post about my father. (Thats dad below, playing kubb)

My father is Mark L. Anderson, born in Minneapolis, MN just over 60 years ago. He was born on Christmas Eve, so hes always been a bit short-changed when it comes to gifts. After all since his birthday is on Christmas, why not just combine gifts into one big Christmas/birthday gift? Despite being short-changed, Ive never heard him complain. My father isnt one to complain.

Growing up with my father I dont think I appreciated how lucky I was that he was so involved in our lives. Looking back I realize just how many of my school friends lived in households torn apart by divorce, or who just had absentee fathers in general.

Full Post…

Tags: Day

If you’ve consumed enough personal finance books and blogs, you’ve repeatedly read that being debt-free opens you up to a world of new possibilities and opportunities. That not carrying the burden of unnecessary debt allows you to make choices and take risks that just wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Also, that having money in the bank to cover unexpected costs or gaps in income gives you the breathing room necessary to try new things.

Whenever you read stories like that on PF blogs, it can feel like touchy-feely academic hogwash. The entire concept of “opportunity” is so esoteric and vague that it’s hard to work it into a financial philosophy that is otherwise so well defined and measurable.

Late last year, I shared my story here on GRS about my climb out of debt, getting married, and building a solid financial foundation for my family with the goal of reaching a full year of expenses in savings.

Full Post…

Tags: New, New Opportunities