Getting a Master Card can be exciting. But before you even fill out the credit application, there are a few things you should know about the card you are applying for. The interest rate, grace period, fees and cash advance polices are all important terms that should determine whether you apply for the card or throw the application in the shredder. This purpose of this article is to discuss the various terms that you should understand before filling out a Master Card credit application.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The APR, or annual percentage rate, is the rate the credit card companies use to calculate your finance charges for the month. The higher this rate is, the more interest you will have to pay on your charges. If you are one of the few who actually pay off their credit card balances every month, you do not need to be concerned with APR. If, on the other hand, you are like most of us and carry a balance from month to month, you want to find a Master Card with the lowest APR possible.

Grace Period

Next to the APR, the grace period is the most important term you need to understand before filling out your Master Card credit application. The grace period refers to when a company can begin charging interest on the charge you make. Most cards have a twenty-five day grace period. If you pay off your balance before twenty-five days, you don’t have to pay any interest. Avoid cards that do not have a grace period because they will charge you interest from the moment you purchase something with the card.

Cash Advances

Credit cards usually allow you to take out cash advances. This is money that you get from the ATM and is counted against your credit limit. Credit card companies normally charge a higher interest for cash advances on top of charging a transaction fee. While you shouldn’t take out cash advances anyway, it’s important to understand these terms before applying for a credit card

Additional Fees

Other fees, including late fees, over-the-limit fees and annual fees should be investigated before applying for a Master Card. Late fees and over-the-limit fees can be avoided by paying your bill on time and not charging more than you pay each month. Never get a card with an annual fee, it’s like paying for the privilege of using credit.