Saving Cash With A Good Credit Rating
By Brit Hall
A good rating means different things to different people. For some – it gives them a sense of security; for others, the satisfaction of working hard and paying off their debt. But when it comes to the businesses you deal with, a good rating can mean so much more – for you, and them.
Now, before I get into the nitty gritty, you should know that a perfect score is 850 – and that few of us will ever attain it. But if you have a good rating (a high number is, say, 775 to 825), there are some real benefits.
For starters, a good rating can get you low- or no-interest cards (at least for a specified period of time), great rates on balances transferred from other cards, plus discounts, cash back, and a myriad of other rewards just for using your card. And that’s just for the standard-issue
credit cards.
If your rating has shifted from the good range to the high end, you can get platinum cards with even more benefits. For instance – a
Bank of America Visa® Platinum Plus® card comes with a limit up to $25,000, travel and emergency assistance, automatic auto rental insurance, Purchase Replacement, Purchase Guard (which may double the manufacturer’s original warranty), and an optional Photo Security feature to protect your card and maintain your good credit. Of course, terms and conditions apply for all these card perks, so if your good rating has put you in a position to apply for one of these cards, be sure to read the fine print so you can take advantage of all the benefits.
Another thing a good rating can get you – a good interest rate on a home loan. So if you’re wondering “how high should my score be for a house loan” – the answer is as high as possible. But don’t kill yourself trying to improve your rating. With a solid score of 700 or more, you’ll be offered more
financing options and better interest rates that will help keep your payments as low as possible. But let’s face it – most banks offer financing options for just about everyone. So if your score is lower, you may just have to be prepared to skip a few dinners out and pay a little more each month on your mortgage.
And when it comes to auto loans for high scores, you should know that with a good rating you’ll be paying less in interest each month. Which means – that if you manage to land a 3 percent interest rate, when you thought you were going to be offered a 6 or 7 percent interest rate, you can still budget as though you got the slightly higher interest rate and pay your car off faster (which will save you even more money in the end).
Before you try to qualify for the loans or cards you want, be sure to check your rating for yourself. And if you see something suspicious, take action before filling out the application. Because while your high score and wealth might not be on your mind every day, it’s always important to the people in charge of the money.
Brit Hall is a freelance writer – and Bank of America customer – who writes articles for young adults about managing expenses, eliminating debt, and other personal finance issues.
