There seems little doubt that the easiest way to apply for a credit card is to do it online. Using this facility, you can review and assess the benefits and incentives that the card issuer is offering as part of their package. At the same time, you can also examine the drawbacks that various credit cards may be imposing for your specific needs. The time involved for approval is also considerably less than if you were to submit an application directly through the post; some sites can give approval in less than 24 hours, while others claim to be able to consider your details in less than sixty seconds.

In today’s consumer society, cash used to be everything. Now, plastic is forcing cash to take a back seat. With associated deals on credit cards such as free car insurance, cash-back or frequent flyer air-miles, the simple convenience of a credit card can make a pocketful of change seem rather unnecessary. Plus, all this talk about 0% interest essentially means you’re getting free money, doesn’t it?

The answer is, of course, no: there is no such thing as free money. While there are many introductory offers that do indeed include 0% interest on borrowing they are only for a fixed period of time. After that time is up, interest rates will apply and it is these figures that you need to be concerned with. There are those who try to the play the system: keeping an eye out for the best introductory offers with 0% finance and transferring their debts to a new credit card, whilst staying out of trouble with the old one. This can work, but does require a lot of thought and tight financial management. For most of us the better and more practical solution is to think ahead: decide why you want your plastic, find out how your credit score will affect your chances of credit and decide how you’ll meet the necessary repayments. After all, if you end up paying 18% interest once an introductory offer has expired, then that’s an 18 percent return for getting your balance paid off. In simple terms, if you have borrowed 8,000 at a rate of 18% interest, then you can expect to pay an extra 1,440 per year, each year, for as long as that debt exists. The answer here is to shop around.

This Credit Score - which you can check before you apply for a credit card - means that the information you supply on a credit card application form has to be as accurate as possible. Inaccuracies will be uncovered through the lenders examining your Credit Report and this, again, could have an adverse affect on your potential to borrow money. Another thing you may want to consider is the length of time an application can take to process - particularly important if you are considering a balance transfer of debt from an existing card to a new one. Most credit card issuers offer an instant decision on your potential for credit and, on average, applications are processed between 10 days and 2 weeks, but there are also postal factors to be taken into account - the arrival of PIN numbers, forms and the credit card itself.

The lenders themselves also use the Internet and the availability of data when you submit your application. When they say they will be able to assess your eligibility for credit in less than 60 seconds, that’s because, in that time, they are able to check your credit rating and see just how you have managed your finances, debts, loans and mortgages in the past. This gives them an idea of the potential risk to them there is involved in lending you money; your credit score directly affects how much and if you are able to apply successfully for credit.

If you know why you want the credit card, how you intend to use it and whether you can meet the necessary repayments once the introductory offer has expired, then you should be on your way to applying for a credit card that can become a valuable and beneficial financial tool.

Even limited research on credit cards will enable you to discover that they are one of the most expensive forms of debt, far more expensive than a personal loan, for example, and if you choose to pay only the minimum amount every month you could be paying a great deal of money to borrow a small amount. However, it is possible to use credit card introductory offers to your advantage, although the process of “credit card offsetting” has become more difficult in recent years as lenders get wise to serial card applicants. The good news is that you don’t need to be a financial whiz kid to save money with your credit card - the following tips can help you get the best out of credit card introductory offers.

While credit agencies may advise that credit card lending is the most expensive form of debt, crafty consumers who manage their spending on credit cards with care and restraint can use great credit card introductory deals to their advantage. Some even use a technique known as “credit card offsetting” where you use your credit card to buy all the goods you would normally purchase on your debit card and then place the money you have saved in a high interest bank account. However you plan to use your credit card, there are a number of tips and pitfalls to be aware of to get the most for your money.

Switching too frequently between credit cards to take advantage of 0% balance transfers can result in a negative affect on your credit rating. Many consumers are still under the impression that you can switch between credit cards at will and never pay a penny in interest. Alas, lenders are wise to this and have taken measures to prevent it. Firstly, many credit card providers will charge a balance transfer fee; others may refuse your application if you have previously used 0% balance transfer offer - and an application refusal can be a black mark against your credit rating. Lenders are also able to asses the number of credit searches that have been made against your name - they may refuse credit if there have been too many searches.

Secondly, make sure you understand the terms and conditions of 0% interest on purchases. Most lenders offer a set period where you will not have to pay any interest on new purchases that you make. This could run until a particular date like the MBNA Platinum card which offers 0% until March 2008 or for a fixed period running from your start up date (e.g Barclaycard Premium offers 3 months interest free on purchases). Obviously if you are planning on making large purchases, the 0% interest free period can be an incredible boon - especially if used in conjunction with any discount or special offers available as part of some credit card introductory offers.

Credit cards can be an extension of your lifestyle. While 0% balance transfers and 0% on purchases are the main incentives for many lenders there are also a huge variety of other credit card introductory offers, often specific to a particular card. Some are designed to appeal to your lifestyle choices - Barclaycard OnePulse, for example, has tied in with the Oyster Travelcard so you only need one card for travel and shopping while the MBNA WWF card makes a contribution to the World Wildlife Fund for every card. Other cards appeal more directly to your pocket offering discounts and special offers at specific retailers - Virigin Credit Card offers discounts at the Virgin Megastore & Virgin Holidays while Egg offers up to 10% at selected retailers. If you already spend a great deal of money at a specific retailer included in a credit card introductory offer then it gives you the opportunity to make potential savings.

For most of us the bottom line is going to be the APR. Unless you’re prepared to dedicate time and energy to highly efficient managing of your credit - certainly worthwhile, but not generally how most of us spend our time - then the most important factor in deciding on which card to choose will be how much will it cost us to borrow money on this credit card? Rates vary but are typically between 14.9% to 16.9% although Capital One are offering rates as low as 9.9% with their Platinum card. Whichever card you choose, it’s important to remember that you will get the best out of your credit card if you manage your spending carefully and pay off your outstanding balance in full every month.