Essence - 3 ways to reduce credit-card charges - now!Give yourself some credit! Here's how to stop paying unnecessary fees or more in interest than you have to:
* Transfer the balance to an interest-free card. More card issuers are competing for your business by extending the introductory-offer period, which allows you to pay the balance over six to nine months with no interest.
* Pay your bills on time. Credit-card issuers are reaping more profits from late fees. In fact, the average late fee has more than doubled since 1999 and issuers have decreased the time between when they mail a bill and when the payment is due.
* Shop around. Before accepting an offer for a new card, compare interest rates, grace periods, late-payment fees and annual fees.
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