Your $tock Mom

Obtain a credit card for free; never pay to get a card!   Do not get a card for any “rewards” or special offers (such as for particular catalog items or air miles). The only acceptable rewards are “cash-back awards” that can be directly applied to your future statements to pay for part of the credit card’s balance due.  Make sure your cash award can be directly applied to your account balance without any hidden details or penalties – in other words, you can use the cash dollars that you build toward paying a portion of your future statements without any “fine print” or well-disguised details that penalize you in any manner.

Shop around for the best card for your particular needs, not theirs.  Read ALL the fine print BEFORE you sign up for a card.  Don’t ignore what you do not understand in the card description and agreement.  Ask questions from an unaffiliated source that has no relationship with the card you are considering for your personal (and separately, but equally important, your business) use.  Remember:  everyone’s trying to make money off of you; that is the nature of being in business – to make money.  You must protect yourself and look after your own best interests.