http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for store cards Copyright 2008 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:47:25 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/store+cards http://www.artwoo.com/article/store-cards-a-brief-guide http://www.artwoo.com/article/store-cards-a-brief-guide#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:27:05 +0000 store credit cardsstore cardsenticebasicallycredit cardretail storecredit history http://www.artwoo.com/article/store-cards-a-brief-guide credit cards from a select number of banks and financial institutions. However, these days you can get credit cards from virtually anywhere, with one of the biggest rises being in retail store credit cards. These cards can seem attractive, especially if they come from a shop in which you make regular purchases. However, there are some downsides to these cards as well. If you are new to the world of store cards, then here is some advice to help you get in the know.

What are store cards?

Basically, store cards are like credit cards, in that you are given a credit limit that you can spend on the card. However, store cards can usually only be used in the particular store or group of stores that you get the card from. In essence, you are getting credit to shop at a particular store or number of affiliated stores by using their special credit card.

What are the benefits?

In order to entice people to get a card that is limited to one store, the retailer will offer you a number of discounts or special offers. These might include a free gift, or reductions on purchase prices when you use the card. If you regularly shop at the store then you could really make a saving on items that you need using one of these cards. Another advantage of store cards is that you can usually get one even if you have bad credit, meaning that you can use the store card to help you build up your credit history.

Are there any drawbacks?

Although store cards do have some advantages, they are a very expensive form of credit. Most store cards have interest rates of 25-30% APR, which is well above the normal price for credit cards. This means that unless you pay the balance off in full each month, you could be left with debts that are costing you vast sums in interest. Also, most store cards are very limited because you can only spend in the chain of stores. Unless you use the store a lot, then a store card is probably not worthwhile.

Can it be used as a credit card?

Although many store cards are still limited for use in one set of stores, some store cards are being changed to full credit cards. These cards can then be used in other shops and retailers like any other credit card. However, the interest rate usually remains the same, meaning you will be paying a lot more than usual for your credit privileges.

Are they worth it?

Although store cards are very expensive and are not worth the money for a lot of people, you can benefit from a store card if you use it in the right way. If you are finding it hard to get a regular card, then using a store card can help you build up your credit history. Also, if you have a favourite shop that you make a lot of purchases in, then having a store card and paying off the balance in full each month will allow you to get the benefits of a store card without paying the high interest rates. Peter Kenny is a writer for creditcards-gb Please visit us at http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk and http://www.thriftyscot.co.uk/Credit-Cards/ ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/birthday-cards-finding-the-perfect-card http://www.artwoo.com/article/birthday-cards-finding-the-perfect-card#comments Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:27:08 +0000 birthday cardshumorous cardsthing to rememberbirthday carddollar storebirthday greetinglocal grocery store http://www.artwoo.com/article/birthday-cards-finding-the-perfect-card birthday card. A lot of time and thought can be spent trying to find the perfect card. We are going to try and provide some tips to make it easier for you to find the perfect birthday card.

When you're first buying a birthday card try to think of what kind of personality the person has who your buying it for. Some people will not like humorous cards while others will love them. This holds true for standard and decorative cards as well.

After you figure out what type of card you want to get the person then you need to go out and buy it. There are a lot of places that sell Birthday cards. However, most of these stores have big differences in location, cost, and store type.

One of the more common ways to buy birthday cards is to just go ahead and pick them up at your local grocery store. This saves you from having to travel out of you way to get cards and you can usually find what you need in a grocery store.

Another great place is your local dollar store. By shopping here you can get cheaper birthday cards which will still get the message across to the recipient.

If you want to really show someone how special they are you can shop from a place that specializes in birthday cards. These stores are usually located in a mall are cater to people who need to find birthday, greeting, or most kinds of cards. These stores also tend to be a little more expensive than some other stores with their cards.

The most important thing to remember when buying a birthday card is to now go too far out of your way to buy one. The card may be cheaper at a farther away store but you can easily use more gas to get there. Start your search for birthday cards at http://www.sharpcards.com/ ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-hidden-cost-of-store-cards http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-hidden-cost-of-store-cards#comments Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:27:06 +0000 store cardscredit cardsinterest ratesbritish consumersinterest free periodpayment protection insurancecompetition commission http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-hidden-cost-of-store-cards store cards.' This seems like a good idea for people who shop regularly in a particular place but there are a number of reasons to be careful about applying for store cards.

When Is A Store Card Not A Store Card?

First of all, the name 'store card' is misleading. It makes them sound friendly. But store cards are another form of credit card. Like credit cards, people can use store cards to defer payment for purchases. Like credit cards, store cards charge interest on uncleared balances. And like credit cards, people have to apply for them.

Although it can be tempting to have a store card for each place you shop in, people should avoid this temptation. Every store card application will become part of your credit history. People who make more than three applications within a seven month period are likely to be turned down for some cards. This will adversely affect their credit rating.

Store Card Interest Rates

A key difference between store cards and credit cards is the interest-free period. While credit cards typically have interest-free periods of up to 56 days, many store cards have none. People pay interest on the debt from the day it goes on the card.

What is worse, the interest rates on most store cards are very high. The Competition Commission recently said that British consumers were being overcharged by £100 million a year due to the high interest rates. In fact, the Commission suggested that store cards should carry a 'wealth warning'.

Interest rates on normal credit cards typically range between 8% and 20%. In contrast, store card interest rates are usually around 30%. This makes a tremendous difference when paying back a debt.

Other Store Card Fees

Store cards also charge high late payment fees, making them very expensive for consumers. And the payment protection insurance offered by many cards may be higher than that charged on regular credit cards.

Not all store cards fall into this category. There are some retail outlets that offer cards with similar rates to regular credit cards. Store cards that are badged by the retail outlet but issued by a bank may also have competitive interest rates.

Getting The Best From Store Cards

With high interest rates and low interest free periods, it is easy for consumers to pay over the odds for store card credit. To avoid this, it's best to:

- Read the fine print to see what rate of interest applies to the card. This will be listed under the heading 'typical APR'

- Check whether there is an interest free period

- Pay off the outstanding balance within a month

Another option is to avoid the store card and use another credit card with a better interest rate. Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and also http://www.cardguide.co.uk ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-cards-tips-for-saving-time-and-money http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-cards-tips-for-saving-time-and-money#comments Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:27:06 +0000 christmas cardsleftover cardsclassic cardsmailholiday spiritcherishpersonal touch http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-cards-tips-for-saving-time-and-money mail from family and friends. These will range from a variety of funny to classic cards that portray the holiday spirit. The problem comes when you need to decide what kind of cards you should send out. Here are some solutions.

If you have been to any card shop or main store during the holiday season chances are you have seen the packs that have around 20 cards sold together. While you may think that this is a little impersonal it helps save some serious time while buying cards. The other nice thing about these packs is that you can safely store the leftover cards to use again next year.

Another good solution is to make your own cards. While they probably wont look as professional as nice store bought cards they have a special character to them. All you need is some paper, a pen, and maybe a computer or decorations if you want a nicer design. This provides people with a nice card that they will cherish because of its personal touch.

The other card buying solution is of course to just buy individual cards from the store. It can be hard to choose exactly what cards you want to get. The best suggestion is to find something that shows off the holiday spirit while still fitting in with the people's personality that you're buying it for. Also, try not to go over your budget as individual card buying ads up in cost very quickly.

With the Christmas season coming up card shopping will once again because an important part of your schedule. No matter how you decide to buy or make your cards always remember to write a personal note to the receiver in them. Adding this small personal touch will really make people feel special in the long run. Find the christmas cards you need at http://www.sharpcards.com/ ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/credit-and-store-cards http://www.artwoo.com/article/credit-and-store-cards#comments Fri, 14 Apr 2006 20:50:05 +0000 store cardscredit cardsinterest ratesplethoracredit cardbalance transfersdebt credit http://www.artwoo.com/article/credit-and-store-cards credit card in the UK was extremely limited, now there is a plethora of companies bombarding everyone with promises of low interest rates, balance transfers and cards which are a status symbol for the holder. In addition to this, most of the High Street stores now offer their own store cards, giving you credit to spend in their store or a chain of stores only.

When you reach the checkout at a clothes store, for example, you are offered a reduction on your purchases if you take out their store card at that point. This makes it extremely easy to say yes and many people agree so that they get the discount without checking any of the small print or terms and conditions. The danger of this is that these cards have notoriously high interest rates of up to 29.9% and for many this is the start of the decline into debt.

Credit cards and store cards work in much the same way and some credit cards have interest rates as high as the store cards, However, if you have a balance on your credit card and cannot afford to pay it off in full, there are ways to use them to your advantage. Many card suppliers offer interest free periods for balance transfers. This will allow you to transfer your existing balance on to another card and pay off as much as you can afford for a set period, often six months, without paying interest on it. This can give you a real opportunity to reduce your debt.

If you have substantial debts on credit and store cards and as a result can only afford to pay the minimum payment on each you may well find that for some of them the monthly interest is actually greater than the amount you are paying and so your balances may actually increase. This is a scary situation to be in as there often seems no way out. In these cases it is often worth trying to take out a personal loan to consolidate all your debt. This will have a significantly lower interest rate than many of the cards and will also reduce the minimum amount you have to pay each month. Mark Lambie is the founder of http://www.loan-source.co.uk a website providing homeowners with free secured loans quotes. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/choose-the-very-best-credit-card-for-you http://www.artwoo.com/article/choose-the-very-best-credit-card-for-you#comments Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:19:55 +0000 prepaid credit cardsstore credit cardscredit cards creditcredit cards workstore cardsrate cardsearn reward points http://www.artwoo.com/article/choose-the-very-best-credit-card-for-you Prepaid credit cards are offered by a lot of major companies and act some what like a debit card, because you will need to open an account and your credit card will be funded by this account. These are great for people starting out with little or no credit or rebuilding credit. Low interest rate cards, are ideal for people with good credit that would like to take advantage of reduced interest rates. Some credit cards have an annual fee, while others do not. Some earn reward points. Store credit cards work similarly to regular credit cards, except there is no annual fee, and the card is only good for purchases at that particular store. These store cards are also effective at rebuilding credit.

You would be surprised at the overall number of people who just don't bother to compare credit cards before signing up for them. You should compare the different features, different benefits, and details of various credit cards. Find, compare, and read reviews before you decide. You wouldn't buy a car without comparing details or benefits, and you never buy a house without looking at several first. Just apply these same principles to credit cards.

Credit cards are convenient for customers and can be beneficial if used correctly. They are the perfect way to finance larger items while still earning points for everyday purchases. Just shop around first, and get the right credit card for you. PAT WOOD IS THE AUTHOR AND OWNER OF THE WEBSITE http://www.best-creditcards.info SHE HAS BEEN IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY SINCE 1987 AND HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL ARTICLES ON CREDIT AND DEBT ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/credit-cards-to-avoid http://www.artwoo.com/article/credit-cards-to-avoid#comments Wed, 13 Sep 2006 06:27:06 +0000 bad credit cardsstore credit cardssecured credit cardsrate credit cardsapplying for a credit cardhttpbeneficial http://www.artwoo.com/article/credit-cards-to-avoid bad credit cards. While credit cards can be very beneficial to many consumers, some credit cards may not be for every type of consumer. Here are some tips on credit cards to avoid.

Usually secured credit cards are not for everyone. Secured credit cards are when you open a bank account and deposit money into it, in which the credit card will give you a specific limit for. Secured credit cards are great tools for people with no or poor credit history, but can be expensive and not practical for consumers with a solid credit history and good credit rating.

For people looking for reward credit card offers, make sure you read the fine print, rewards offers are not for everyone. You can spend lots of money chasing rewards that may be worthless, do some homework and realistically think if you will be using the card enough to qualify for valuable rewards.

Low introductory interest rate credit cards can be a disaster in disguise for some consumers. Many low introductory interest rate offers last for six months or one year, which is great, but once the time period has ended, the interest rates might rise suddenly. You can be stuck with lots of credit card debt and a high interest rate to boot.

Store credit cards can sometimes be cards to avoid as well. Store credit cards are usually only allowed to be used at certain stores, which is fine. However store credit cards can have high interest fees and you can usually purchase the same items with your own standard credit card with a lower fee.

Remember, if you are applying for a credit card, do your homework and think about how you will use it. Not all credit cards fit each person's specific situation and should be avoided. Connie Barker is the owner of several financial websites including http://www.directcreditcardservices.com/bad-credit-cards.html ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/greetings-cards-adding-a-personal-touch http://www.artwoo.com/article/greetings-cards-adding-a-personal-touch#comments Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:27:03 +0000 greeting cardsgreeting cardsend a greetingcustom cardsbrand name productshttpobviously http://www.artwoo.com/article/greetings-cards-adding-a-personal-touch Greeting cards are bought for people all the time. Whenever you open a greeting card don't you just love the feeling you get to know that somebody is thinking about you? How about the feeling knowing that somebody took the time to write out a card and send it to you?

There is no better way to send a personal message to someone than by a greeting card. They can be used for birthdays, weddings, events, and so much more! Now lets move on to the types of greeting cards.

Of course you can always buy a store brand greeting card but why go through all the trouble of writing a card if you can't make it feel unique? The best way to send a greeting card is to by getting a hand made one. Now you're probably thinking "Is it possible to even get hand-made cards?"

Using different craft fairs and sites you can easily locate a place that will design and make hand-made cards. Sometimes for a small price more you can even get custom cards. What better way is there to tell someone your thinking about them then a greeting card made specifically for them?

A big factor in most people not buying these nicer cards is cost. They will obviously cost a little bit more than your average store bought card. However, by paying more you are making sure you get quality work. Most people will pay a little more at the grocery store for good brand name products so why not carry that over to greeting cards?

When everything is said and done it does make a difference to somebody when they open that envelope and find a hand-made card. It tells them that you were not only thinking about them but also took the time to find a card that is specific to their needs. Personalized greeting cards mean a lot to anyone and are worth the extra money they cost. Visit our site for greeting cards and other crafts and gifts in the UK: http://www.craftfair.co.uk/MainCatPage.cfm ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-buying-guide-for-gift-cards http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-buying-guide-for-gift-cards#comments Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:27:27 +0000 gift cardsgift cardnonethelessmoneyexpiry datewin win propositionhelp http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-buying-guide-for-gift-cards Gift cards are a great way to save money on purchases this is especially true if you buy merchandiser from the same stores all the time. These stores, on the other hand, while giving you savings on your purchases due to the gift card are nonetheless happy because they know that you will be spending your money with them instead of with other people. This makes gift cards sort of a win-win proposition for most people.

Then again, some people think that the disadvantage of gift cards is that they limit you to purchasing with one store. But if you really are predisposed to spending most of your money on one store, then that would not be a problem at all.

If you are looking to buy a gift card either for yourself or for others, then you need to follow a few pointers to avoid potential pitfalls to the use of gift cards. These tips will help you protect your interests and the interests of those you plan to give the gift cards to in the first place.

1. Gift Card Terms

The first thing you have to consider is the terms of the gift check. As with any purchase you always have to read the fine print before deciding on anything. The details on gift cards vary per store, and most stores have different promotions for their purchases.

Look at the details if it mentions anything about the expiry date of the gift card. This is very important as you could very well be purchasing a card that is close to expiry, or might be the expiry date comes across as too narrow for your liking.

Look at the special terms for purchases - are there any special provisions or requirements when you make a purchase? Is there a spending limit per day? What becomes of your credit if you are not able to fully use up a gift card?

You will have to consider all these things before purchasing the card. If you can create a matrix of differing cards for sale, then this will help you make better decisions, especially if you can create a list of pros and cons of each variant.

You should also look at how much you can save by the use of this card. You should be able to save a good amount of money from the use of gift cards. If you do not, then there is no use for you to be purchasing a gift card in the first place.

2. Your Store of Choice

When purchasing a card, make sure the store it is attached to is a store you are likely to visit. Or, if you are giving this card away as a gift, then you will have to find the store that appeals the person you are giving it to.

You dont want to get stuck with a card you will never end up using because the store attached to it offers nothing you are interested in anyway.

3. Place of Purchase

The best place to get legitimate gift cards are is the store itself. Ask the customers service representative where you can avail of gift cards. You could even ask if you could get them for a better price. Even if you do not get a discount, the question would not hurt. Also, if you do get the discount then it would be worth your while.

There are some that sell gift cards and such. Of course, there is an inherent risk with buying such cards. These cards could be stolen, forged, counterfeit, or expired. While these cards give you great savings many people buy such cards whenever possible they could also be a big headache if you purchase the wrong cards. While buying gift cards from other individuals isnt really illegal, you should still exercise caution when buying such cards.

4. Trusted sellers are a rarity nowadays

Of course, you still can find those that sell such cards at lower prices than even the participating stores do. Since stores do not return money for any unused gift cards, holders of these cards have no choice but to sell them to other individuals if they arent keen on using the gift cards themselves. For more great gift card related articles and resources check out http://123giftcards.info ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-store-cards-worth-the-cost http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-store-cards-worth-the-cost#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:29:18 +0000 store cardsphysical presencereward pointsunpaid balancecash transactionsrate of interestwithdrawals http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-store-cards-worth-the-cost Store cards have become very popular in recent years. While these are essentially the same as credit cards, you can only use them at one store -- the store whose name appears on the credit card and which issued you the card. Depending on the store name, you can use the card at any of the stores in that chain, which means that if you are in another town or city, or even another country where the store has a physical presence, you can use it to make purchases in that location. One of the main disadvantages of using a store credit card is that you can only use it to make purchases. No cash transactions or withdrawals are permitted and you cannot use this type of card in an ATM or at a bank.

Another disadvantage of having a store card is that you often buy on impulse when in the store. Just because you do have available credit often causes you to buy something you don't really need. However, if you are shopping in the store and see an item that you do really need that just happens to be on sale, you can buy it using the card and then pay off the cost when you have the funds available to you. Quite often the same article may be much cheaper at another store, but when you want to use the store card for your purchases, then you are restricted in where you can shop and buy.

Some stores offer incentives to consumers in an effort to entice them to sign up for a card. This includes such things as reward points that they can cash in when they accumulate enough points and basically receive an item of their choosing for free. Sometimes, the stores allow consumers to buy anything in the store, while other store cards only have certain items that consumers can use to redeem their points.

If you do carry a balance on your store card each month, then you should be aware that you are paying a very high rate of interest on the unpaid balance. It is very easy to get deeply in debt with a store card because of the opportunity you have to make purchases you otherwise may not have made. When you do reach your credit limit on the card and cannot make any more purchases until you pay off some of the balance, many stores will increase the credit limit enticing you to buy more.

If you have a fairly good credit rating, you are far better off applying for a credit card rather than a store card. A credit card gives you the opportunity to shop where you please so that you can shop around for the best price. A 0% credit card will enable you to pay off the outstanding balance that you have on your store card so that you can pay it odd a lot sooner at no cost to you.

If you do have a store card and carry a balance each month, look at your statement when you next receive it. Check the amount of your last payment and then subtract the interest that was deducted from this payment to see how little you actually paid on the balance. This is really an eye-opener for some consumers who did not realize that it would take them a long time to pay off a large amount of money.Peter Kenny has been writing financial articles for 10 years and is a writer for The Thrifty Scot, please visit us at Credit Cards and Compare Credit CardsVisit Learn How a Consolidation Loan Can Help You]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/store-cards-exposed http://www.artwoo.com/article/store-cards-exposed#comments Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:27:11 +0000 store cardscredit cardsinterest free periodpenalty chargesinterest chargespeople signannual percentage rate http://www.artwoo.com/article/store-cards-exposed people sign up to store cards just because they are tempted by initial discounts on purchases or the additional offers that these cards promote such as private shopping evenings or special access to sales goods. Another common attraction is that some shoppers feel a sense of loyalty to certain shops and feel good in themselves about having that store card in their wallet, particularly if the store has some prestige. All this is really false economy because the reality is that shoppers may well end up paying much more for their goods as a result of the high interest charges that many store cards impose.

A 10% discount in store is not so attractive when you consider there may be an annual percentage rate (APR) of up to 30% on your purchases.

Because they often charge much higher levels of interest, many store card providers carry out less stringent credit checks than other providers of loans or credit cards. This means that some people who would otherwise not qualify for credit are being given cards. Many spend beyond their means and cannot afford to keep up with their repayment schedules.

The use of credit facilities is widespread particularly as it is now considered socially acceptable. However, unless you intend to repay the debt within the interest-free period, in general it is best to avoid store cards. The interest due on outstanding debt can quickly mount up. If you really don't have the ready cash to hand, you would be much better to borrow the money on a traditional credit card or take out a personal loan. All too often people are unaware of terms and conditions of credit agreements, but it is vital to check the small print on these store cards before signing up. Usually the interest-free period varies between 35 and 55 days and charges also show a wide variation. Some of the highest rates reach 30% and many retailers charge around 20%. Another area to be aware of is the penalty charges imposed if you fail to meet the minimum monthly repayment.

You should always consider whether a standard credit card or a personal loan could be a better option. An interest rate of 14% or lower is available from some card providers and personal loans start from around 5%. Also don't forget that standard credit card companies often promote zero interest introductory offers which can be taken advantage of.

If you already have one or more store cards I would recommend that you pay them off as soon as possible. If you don't have the cash available then borrow the money through a cheaper channel and get those store cards out of your wallet! Sue Barnard writes on a variety of money saving and personal finance subjects. More of her work can be seen on these http://www.finance-team.co.uk/ and http://www.cheap-rate-loans.co.uk/ websites. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/resisting-the-credit-card-urge http://www.artwoo.com/article/resisting-the-credit-card-urge#comments Sun, 24 Sep 2006 22:27:07 +0000 store credit cardsdepartment store cardsair milesdepartment store creditrewardsmoneycard numbers http://www.artwoo.com/article/resisting-the-credit-card-urge
Only get what you need

Look at your cards and evaluate what you use each one of them for. You may have a few department store credit cards, and a few cards that you may get bonuses for such as air miles or Disney points. You don't need those!! The department store cards, while most offer you a discount several times a year, often come with one of the steepest interest rates you will ever see. The trick about the rewards cards is that you can't get the rewards unless you pay off the credit in full! So if you buy two thousand dollars worth of junk to get enough air miles to fly to Vegas, you'd better have two thousand bucks in cash to pay that off so you can actually go! So if you are going to have credit cards, just have what is absolutely necessary for emergencies, maybe just one good card with a decent spending limit and low interest rate.

Cut them up!

If you are swearing not to use the cards, then cut them up! If they have a balance on them, write your card numbers down so you can continue to pay them off, if not call and cancel them. That way, the next time you see something you really want, you won't be tempted to dig that credit card out of its hiding place and charging more money to it.

Carry Cash

When you go to the grocery store, the drug store, or even out to the bars, only carry cash and an id. If you don't have your card with you, you can't spend on it. This also serves as a very good budgeting tool. When you go out for a night of drinking with your friends say you are only going to spend a certain amount. Take that amount out of the atm, and when you run out of money, you are done partying for the night. You may be less tempted to get those expensive mixed drinks and stick to beer, when you only have a few bucks left! Visit Debt Sanity to view our http://www.debtsanity.com online. Also, visit Debt Sanity for help finding Credit Card Debt Consolidation Services. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/gift-credit-cards-why-gift-cards-are-the-best-present-money-can-buy http://www.artwoo.com/article/gift-credit-cards-why-gift-cards-are-the-best-present-money-can-buy#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:36:30 +0000 american expressvisa mastercardgift cardsperfect giftend resultcredit cardsdiscovery http://www.artwoo.com/article/gift-credit-cards-why-gift-cards-are-the-best-present-money-can-buy credit cards can make a tremendous gift for the holidays. Many people are buying them today, because let's face it-many times you simply don't know what the person you are buying for really wants, and rather than potentially give them the wrong gift, why not take ht safe route and just let them choose for themselves what they want?

Think of how few returns there would be if everybody did this? It might not seem as well thought out as getting that perfect gift, but the end result will be the same, in that they will have the money to go out and buy exactly what they want.

This way, you also don't have to go to every store in town trying to find that perfect gift, and end up wasting a whole afternoon in the process and still not get what you were looking for. one thing I'd recommend, when getting gift credit cards, try and get them from one of the larger credit firms, such as Visa, MasterCard, Discovery, or American Express, as these allow the person you are getting them for to use them wherever they want.

Lets face it, people change their minds, and when you get gift cards from just one store, you are severely limiting their options as far as what they can buy. When you get them gift credit cards, you allow them to utilize them anywhere they want without having to be constricted to one location.

All you have to do is prepay how much money you want for them to be able to spend, and then they can spend up to this amount wherever they want. These are much preferable to cash in that they are far easier to carry around.

Let's face it, trying to carry cash around everywhere you go can be very annoying, and credit cards are far easier to deal with. Many people don't like them because they allow them to spend an unlimited amount and often times more than they can really afford, but when you budget properly, credit cards can be much better than having cash, and this is why I'd recommend you give gift credit cards as opposed to cash.

Also, they can use these cards to buy items on the internet, which cash certainly doesn't allow for. The bottom line is, these cards are accepted anywhere that credit cards are, as opposed to cash, which you can only use at physical locations.

Many sites online offer these cards, and you don't even have to go anywhere to get a gift card. All you need to do is fill out a form, and the card will arrive within a short time. if you are ordering around the holidays, be sure to leave a longer time than usual, as they will be getting swamped with orders, and you obviously want to be sure your gift gets there beforehand.

If you don't know what to get from somebody for Christmas or their birthday, then these cards can be a lifesaver. They are something that almost anybody would enjoy, and in fact a recent study showed that most people prefer getting gift credit cards as opposed to cash or gifts, because they can spend the money however they want.Looking for that perfect gift? For more info on gift credit cards, check out internetcreditinfo.com. This is a popular credit site that shows you where to find the best gift cards for the holidays.]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/flash-card-when-size-really-matters http://www.artwoo.com/article/flash-card-when-size-really-matters#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2006 23:00:07 +0000 flash cardsmemory storagestorage cardsmemory sticksmemory capacitycomputers computersdigital cameras http://www.artwoo.com/article/flash-card-when-size-really-matters memory storage would evolve into flash cards we know today. It is ever harder to believe that the tiny rectangular piece of plastic could store thousands of pictures, hundreds of songs, and even movies. Remember few years ago when storing files could mean we have to settle for 3.5" and the outrageously large 5.25"? You know what I mean right? Those we have thought the future of memory storage- the floppy disks? With the amazing capacity to store as much as 1.44 MB of files, these floppy disks are really works of technology.

But as we all know technology would not stop to evolve. This is the reason why floppy disks are now the thing of the past. And as the years go by, we have received memory storage cards that are as size of post stamps. We even amaze old folks when we remove in from of them those tiny card out from digital cameras, cellular phones, and computers.

One of the earlier flash cards have the memory capacity not far from floppy drives. 2 MB is enough considering you have the reference point of 1.44MB. Shortly, the 4 MB came out. From then on, several more powerful, smaller, and larger storage flash cards came out. The 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 MB came out. Up to now, the 128 MB flash cards are still being used although much higher memory cards are now in the market.

Today, several digital devices are using 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, and even 8 GB and 16 GB flash cards. Those are the capacity of hard drives just year ago. While hard drives are as size of car stereo cut in half, flash cards can fit to your pocket just like having a penny. The benefits of flash cards could be seen more popularly on digital cameras where they can sit peacefully to the camera's size. How about computers? Computers still use hard drives to store memory. And if you want some portable drives, the flash memory sticks are used. Like flash cards, they are small with large amount of memory capacity.

You might wonder how can a single tiny card hold such large files. Let us put it this way: your file cabinet could only store limited amount of files. And large cabinets are big. Big if you are going to store all these filed digitally, meaning using electronic codes, you can store as much files in one tiny storage just like the flash card. Another reason is that flash cards have removed unnecessary components that could enlarge the size of the card.

There are several types of flash cards used today particulry on digital cameras. These came in different sizes depending on the device it is designed to fit in. Here are several types of flash cards used: MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), SmartMedia (SM) and xD-Picture Card (xD).

The sizes also depend on the capacity of the flash card against one another. But the bottom line is, flash cards, no matter what the size is, still carry significantly large amount of files in one tiny square-shaped plastic card. Who knows, in the future we might se 80 GB flash drives that can record and store several hours of video. About The Author: Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides flash card resources on http://www.about-flash-cards.info ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-history-of-greeting-cards-an-overview http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-history-of-greeting-cards-an-overview#comments Sun, 27 Aug 2006 20:27:05 +0000 send greeting cardsbirthday cardssending cardsamerican greetingsgreeting card companieshallmarkrubber stamping http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-history-of-greeting-cards-an-overview send greeting cards for their holiday well-wishes.

Greeting cards really hit the mainstream in the 1850's, when commercial printing as well as the invention of the postage stamp started to allow people all over the world to send greeting cards to their loved ones. Now, greeting cards are a billion dollar business, with people purchasing and sending cards for holidays including religious celebrations, birthdays, and even just as a simple thank you or gesture of love. The two largest greeting card companies, Hallmark and American Greetings, offer cards that are perfect for any occasion, with themes and illustrations that are great for all tastes.

Of course, you don't need to buy your greeting cards in a store. Computers and home printers have made it easy to create and print out your own cards at home. Many people have also taken up paper crafts, and have taken to hand making their own greeting cards out of many different materials, with embellishments ranging from ribbons to beads. Some even go as far as to make their own paper, which is a time consuming process but definitely shows your recipient just how much you care. Hand painting and rubber stamping with ink can complete your homemade creation.

Greeting cards have evolved from an item used only by the rich to an everyday tradition. Whether you want to communicate with far-off relatives, or just let your sweetie know how much you love them -- greeting cards make a great (and inexpensive) way to brighten up someone's day! Get Birthday Cards and Greeting Cards. http://www.sharpcards.com/ ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-cards-at-the-click-of-a-button http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-cards-at-the-click-of-a-button#comments Fri, 29 Sep 2006 04:27:04 +0000 sending e cardssend e cardslove e cardschristmas cardsmail accountsnail mailchristmas card http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-cards-at-the-click-of-a-button
One little job that can be hectic is sending Christmas cards. If you are "organized" like me, you probably have your little list that you pull out each year. People move and addresses change, and the simple task of sending a tiny card in the mail can become a monster!

This is why many people have started sending e-cards. Like e-mail and e-everything-else nowadays, e-cards are sent through the internet, rather than by the old "snail mail."

You simply choose the card you like, and send it from your e-mail account to another. You don't need to spend all that time writing addresses and buying stamps and so forth. And, it's easy to manage your Christmas card list because you can keep it all on your e-mail account, updated and ready to go!

Now, some people might think that sending e-cards is somewhat impersonal. Getting the mail is half the fun, right? Actually, the ease and convenience of e-cards means that you can send MORE Christmas cards. I send e-cards to acquaintances and co-workers who I otherwise might not send a Christmas card to.

I send regular Christmas cards from the store to my family and close friends, and for everyone else I send e-cards. This way I can send a Christmas greeting to everyone!

Besides all that, you can personalize your e-card. There are sites all over the Web where you can find e-cards that are ready-to-send. They allow you to write your own messages, choose a font you like, and some even let you put your own pictures on them.

The Internet offers us many easy ways to keep in touch with the ones we love. E-cards are a quick, convenient and cost-effective way to send your seasons' greetings! Check out our Christmas Cards at http://www.sharpcards.com/ ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/getting-the-most-out-of-digital-camera-memory-cards http://www.artwoo.com/article/getting-the-most-out-of-digital-camera-memory-cards#comments Wed, 19 Jul 2006 12:27:09 +0000 memory cardsbuy memoryphotosdigital cameraexpress photophoto selectionphoto department http://www.artwoo.com/article/getting-the-most-out-of-digital-camera-memory-cards digital camera. While regular film cameras still exist and are quite popular, there is nothing like saving money on film developing and being able to see a live review of your photos at the moment you take them. These are the benefits of a digital camera but, in order to enjoy these perks, we have to understand the importance of memory cards.

Memory cards are small devices that fit inside the digital camera and store each photo that we take. It allows for us to review the images immediately and also permits us to make actual prints. If you have ever strolled by the express photo department in a local retail store, you are likely to see a large machine that resembles a copier. This is a unit that often provides actual photos, within minutes, from the use of memory cards and other digital media. Upon closer inspection, you may notice that the unit has a small slot for memory cards to be inserted. At that time, it then begins to read the contents and display the results on screen for photo selection. An individual can select which photos to print and what, if any, retouches are to be made. Upon completing the order, print photos are usually available within seconds and are disbursed in a tray beneath the unit.

Because memory cards are so important to the operation of our digital camera, they must be kept as safe as possible. The best way to ensure the safety of memory cards is to keep them away from extreme heat or cold, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and keep them away from water at all times. It is best not to handle the cards excessively, but rather store them inside your digital camera for added security.

Memory cards are designed to hold a certain number of photos, which is determined based on the capacity of the card. If you plan to take a lot of photos or simply wish to have ample space without having to continually buy memory cards, consider a model that holds a lot of photos. For the occasional picture taker, basic memory cards will be ideal with a less than 100 image capacity.

When shopping for memory cards, make sure that the product you choose is compatible with your camera and is made by a well known manufacturer. Memory cards are readily available in the electronics section of most retail stores and online at any electronics or specialty retailer. Learn more about memory cards - visit our website at http://www.memorycardguide.info for memory cards articles and reviews. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-money-fom-vintage-postcards-have-those-old-postcards-make-you-money http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-money-fom-vintage-postcards-have-those-old-postcards-make-you-money#comments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:30:26 +0000 french postcardsantique postcardsphoto postcardsvintage postcardsold postcardscollecting cardsebay http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-money-fom-vintage-postcards-have-those-old-postcards-make-you-money collecting cards you will come across some beautiful old postcards, many of the old linen cards have beautiful reproductions of city streets, or old highways, old hotels and great landscapes. You may come upon something that reminds you of somewhere you have traveled or somewhere you use to live.

First you will have to find someone willing to part with a large number of postcards, or a Lot. This could be a mixed lot or a lot of postcards dealing with a single subject such as realphoto, , Transportation, or anything that you have an interest in and feel that you could sell.

You could easily find this assortment of postcards on eBay. From there you can go to postcards and search through the lots. Just go to the searchbox and type in real photo postcards, vintage postcards, antique postcards or French postcards and you will find more than enough of an assortment to take care of you for a while. Find something you like and place a bid on it. If it has a buy it now price you can purchase the cards outright.

Once you have your cards you are ready to make money with postcards. Go through your cards and seperate the cards you think will sell and the ones that may not sell as quickly as a singular item. During this process you may come across cards that are your personal favorites, and just wish to keep. Go right ahead, now your a collector.

Now that you have separated your cards into two groups (or three) you can start figuring out what to charge for your cards. Say you have a postcard of an old gas station. Go to eBay and look up postcards, then go to gas stations and you will get an idea of what to charge for your card. Scan your card and insert it on eBay. See, that was a snap.

You may wish to set up a store on eBay. By having a store you will be able to list entire collections of postcards at a fraction of the cost of listing them individually. To do this you would want to list 10-20 cards individually. This will act as a pointer to your store. Once you get the store set up it will automatically take care of itself. You will just have to keep your individual listings up to date.

So now your wondering what to do with all of your leftover cards. Well, you just combine them in a lot a sell them as such. If you wish you can learn to know which cards are popular enough to sell as seperate units. You can pretty much keep this wheel turning forever, and in the meantime create quite a nice personal collection of cards. Remember that the collecting part of this adventure can be quite enjoyable. If you like a card you are free to keep it. Nobody is telling you that you must put the card up for sale. There are going to be plenty of postcards out there that you don;t find very appealling, however one persons ugly card is another persons treasure. I hope this helped. The main thing is to enjoy your new hobby.New Page 1 The author has been collecting and reselling postcards for more than 30 years. For more information on the subject please go to http://realpicturepostcards.com]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/my-collection-of-sports-cards http://www.artwoo.com/article/my-collection-of-sports-cards#comments Sun, 09 Jul 2006 14:27:07 +0000 sports cardscards collectionslove sportsspecial sportsnew sportsmy three sonsi love http://www.artwoo.com/article/my-collection-of-sports-cards I love having only what I need. I have one running collection, however, that only seems to get bigger as the years go on. Sports cards. I really love gathering, trading and owning sports cards.

My love for sports cards began as a young child. My dad would reward me with sports cards when I did well at my chores or when I studied well for school. It was one of the only rewards he offered, and it quickly became the only reward that I was interested in. I remember the joy of buying my first binder to hold my sports cards in. I had saved my allowance for a couple of months and could finally buy the special sports cards holder that I had been looking at in the sports cards store.

As I got older, I phased in and out of looking for new sports cards, but I continually cherished my sports cards collections and I spent many hours of free time looking at them and memorizing everything I could about them. Some of my brothers and my friends made fun of me for loving my collection of sports cards so much, but I didn't care. I collected cards from baseball and basketball players mostly, but I've got small collections of cards from a variety of players.

When I had my own children, I could hardly wait to begin sharing my love for sports cards with my sons. I bought them sports cards within a week of their births and I continued to start small collections of cards with them. As they have gotten older, they have truly started to love sports cards like I do. Some of our best times together and our best conversations are surrounding our collections. No one else seems to understand their value quite like we do.

Once a year I take my three sons to a huge exhibition that is focused solely on sports cards. We bring our big binders and we make purchases and trades all weekend long. It is our favorite weekend of the year. We have a great time together and I love that I have something in common with my sons. They love asking my advice about particular trades and purchases, and I love giving my advice to them about sports cards.

It is never too late to start a collection of sports cards. It is a fun hobby that will keep you entertained for years to come. Triston Huntsmin is a father and a car dealer that loves to collect sports cards in his free time. See http://www.sportscardshub.info for more details. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-get-your-first-credit-card http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-get-your-first-credit-card#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:01:38 +0000 department store cardsmanaging financesmatter what kindcredit unionsstudent credit cardsearscard game http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-get-your-first-credit-card card game can be a rough one, especially when you have no idea what's going on in the market. If this seems like you, you're not alone. Thousands of people like you graduate high school every year and have no idea on where to start to get their first credit card. While it seems like everyone and their brother say that credit is bad, it really isn't. As long as you use it the right way, you really can take advantage of the rewards I'm going to show you some tips on how you can get your first credit card within a few days.

Start with a student card -- Most college students out there don't realize that there are cards out there that are designed solely for them. If you're a college student, you already have an advantage. Why?

Credit card companies love to give out cards to college students because they believe that mommy or daddy will bail them out if they can't pay their bills off in time. They also believe that a college student Is a little bit more motivated and a little bit smarter when it comes to managing finances. Remember, this is the company "thinking" this, not myself. If you're a college student, I highly recommend you try out a student credit card.

Go to a credit union -- No matter what kind of town you live in, I'm sure there's a credit union or bank nearby that you can check out. If you're not a student after high school, try going to a bank or credit union to see if you can get approved for their credit card. Most of the times, you'll be surprised at what they can offer to you when you have no credit. Credit Unions are a great way to get your credit started.

Try a department store- If you don't like the idea of the first two, try out a department store. Every major department store retailer such as Sears, etc, will carry a credit card that can be used at their store. This card, if you apply for one, will be helpful for you when you're looking to build credit. Department store cards are a great way to build your credit because they tend to accept just about everyone. Be aware though, if you're new to the credit world, you'll probably get a lower credit limit.

There are a few things to remember when you're applying for your first credit card. Don't apply for too many cards at once. If you do this, it's going to hurt your chances of getting potentially approved for that card that would have approved you. If they check out your credit report and see that you tried to open up ten cards, this may look a little suspicious to them. My rule of thumb is to apply for one card and wait for the results. Once you get the results, proceed to the next step depending on what it said. Getting your first credit card isn't a challenge; instead it should be a learning experience. If you follow the tips above, your first card shouldn't be a problem!See all of the first credit cards on the market along with Tom's work at FINDcollegecards.]]>