Consumerism Commentary - Latest Comments in Wall Street Journal Offers Some Free Content

Re: Wall Street Journal Offers Some Free Content

Jonathan — Fri, 20 May 2005 01:17:10 -0000

I like 0% APR deals, since I just have to pay the bills as they come in, but I'm too lazy to keep up with these balance-transfer-for-life deals where you have to make two purchases every month, etc. and have to worry about if that $1 gas purchase will count as a purchase.

Re: Wall Street Journal Offers Some Free Content

jim — Thu, 19 May 2005 22:04:19 -0000

I just locked in a rate on the home I'm buying, I think I'm going to try to get in on the 0% BT action despite writing an article warning against it.

If anyone is interested in reading it, it's available here. (but I don't think it'll add more if you've read Terris' article)

Re: Wall Street Journal Offers Some Free Content

savvy saver — Thu, 19 May 2005 15:25:03 -0000

I do have about $30,000 in 0% transfers in my Emgirant account. Since I already own a house, and I won't be refinancing (I have a 30-year fixed rate of 5.375%), I don't see it as a problem. I still have plenty of open credit on my Amex and MBNA cards for normal use.

You could work you way up to $30,000 like I did. Start taking out BT every other month or so. You likely won't take a big hit, cc companies have been upping my credit limits like crazy since I started this, so my ratio of used/available credit hasn't declined much. It's crazy, but now I see how people that charge up huge credit card debt just keep getting more credit.

Re: Wall Street Journal Offers Some Free Content

Flexo — Thu, 19 May 2005 14:30:15 -0000

I would need to transfer $30,000 from a credit card (or two or three, combined) to make $75 a month at 3.0% APR (prior to taxes). That would destroy my ratio of used to available credit, and my credit score would likely drop. If I were positive I didn't need a decent credit score for a while, I would go for it.

The plan is very workable, though, as long as the best 0% APR offers are used. If the cards require you make purchases at a higher APR every month, the purpose of the 0% APR is defeated.

Re: Wall Street Journal Offers Some Free Content

savvy saver — Thu, 19 May 2005 13:51:49 -0000

Good post. That WSJ article was very informative, you have to be VERY mindful of the rules and related fees when playing the 0% game. On the flip side, I've currently got several 0% balance xfers that I'm earning interest on. I'm making $77/month in interest, just for paying a couple credit card bills. At then end of a year, that amounts to a $900 addition to my "cash cushion", minus any tax expense.

The deals I have are with Citi and Chase, and neither requires purchases at any time. They also have no fees with these particular offers. I have yet to come across an MBNA offer with no balance transfer fee, usually they charge $50 or 3%, whichever is greater, which eliminates any chance for profit. I also know someone who pays their tuition this way, bouncing from one 0%, no fee, offer to another every 9-12 months. They then save all the money they earn during the summers, hoping to be able to pay as much back as possible when they are no longer able to get 0% deals.

The trick is finding the good offers, reading the fine print, and staying on top of the payments.