Secured credit cards are a helpful tool for people with bad or limited credit. They also help finance day-to-day purchases while rebuilding the credit. Getting secured credit cards is easy as they have lenient approval requirements. The best secured credit cards also have low annual fees, and minimum deposits, and offer significant rewards on spending. Below is a list of some of the best secured credit cards and their features.
Discover It Secured Credit Card
Discover It is one of the best secured credit cards because it has no annual fee and, instead, offers 1 to 2% cashback on purchases. It requires a relatively low minimum refundable security deposit of at least $200, and an added feature of this card is the cash reward provided after 12 months from the registered period. Also, after a period of responsible use, automatic reviews determine if your card can transition to an unsecured card.
Citi Secured Mastercard
This card is ideal for beginners with limited or no credit and has no annual fee. The Citi Secured Mastercard requires a minimum security deposit of $200. Through its monthly reporting to all three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, the card helps you build your credit history. Though it does not offer any rewards, the Citi Secured Mastercard can be used all over the world.
Capital One Platinum Secured
Compared to other secured cards, the Capital One Platinum Secured requires a lower deposit. Usually, the credit line is as big as a security deposit, but with the Capital One Platinum Secured card, some applicants with better qualifications may get the initial credit limit of $200 by paying a deposit of $49 or $99. Customers can also pay the security deposits in installments instead of making the payment in one go. No annual or foreign transaction fee further makes it one of the best secured credit cards in the country.
U.S. Bank Secured Visa Card
People with fair credit can get the U.S. Bank Secured Visa Card to build their credit score. It requires a minimum deposit of $300 and has no annual fee and no rewards program. You can choose your credit card due date and the auto-pay feature helps you pay your balance faster, eliminating interest and late fees. Also, if your secured card is lost or stolen, you will not be liable for unauthorized transactions.
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit card
Strengthen or rebuild the credit with a Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card. Bank of America secured credit cardholders can earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases. With good payment behavior, the card can be transitioned to an unsecured card. There is no annual fee and the minimum security deposit requirement is $300. Bank of America will report the card history to the three credit bureaus to help you build your credit score over time.
Secured Sable ONE Credit Card
People with poor credit can apply for the Secured Sable ONE Credit Card. The card has $0 annual fees and gives attractive rewards that make it one of the best secured credit cards in the market. With this card, you can also earn 1 to 2% cashback in addition to a bonus on all cash back at the end of the first year. The card can be upgraded to an unsecured card in 4 months; this is a shorter duration compared to what other credit cards offer. You can also improve your credit score as monthly transaction reports are sent to the credit bureaus. Other notable benefits offered include cover for phone damage or theft if you buy your phone or pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card.
Secured cards are also best suited for those who have never owned a credit card. The credit history of the secured credit card will help you build personal credit inexpensively and this will help you qualify for a decent unsecured card in the future.
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Top 4 credit cards for reward points
Read moreIf you have an impeccable credit record, you can get your hands on some of the best credit cards that offer reward points for every transaction. That said, some of the popular value-for-money credit cards offer more than just reward points—think huge savings on shopping, dining, traveling, and much more. Here’s a list of our top five picks of the best reward points credit cards.
Citi Custom Cash Card
You can earn 5% cashback on purchases in the top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, and 1% cashback thereafter with this credit card. You can earn unlimited 1% cashback in all the other categories. Another benefit of the Citi Custom Cash Card is that there is no annual fee, and you get an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months.Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card is a perfect choice if you travel often. You can earn 2X points on travel, dining out, or takeout and one point per dollar spent on other purchases. Plus, you earn 100,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. And the points are worth 25% more if you redeem them for travel. That’s a lot of value, but the card has a $95 annual fee.American Express® Gold Card
This is one of the best credit cards if you want to collect points. You can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards® points if you spend $4,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, it offers 4X reward points on takeout and delivery. There’s also a $120 annual dining credit at select outlets, and you can get Uber cash of up to another $120 annually on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders. Some might find the $250 annual fee steep, but the Amex Gold Card does pack a punch.CapitalOne SavorOne Rewards Card
This CapitalOne credit card makes for an excellent choice for beginners as it offers rewards on all popular spending categories, like entertainment, food, and shopping. Plus, it has a 0% introductory APR for 15 months. You can earn unlimited 3% cashback on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and at grocery stores, and you also get 1% cashback on all other categories. And all this comes with no annual fee. This is one of the best credit cards for collecting reward points if you spend a lot on these categories. -
How to keep muscle cramps away
Read moreWe bet, the thought of a muscle cramp makes you cringe. So how is a muscle cramp caused? To put in simple terms, it is a strong contraction or tightening of a muscle that happens in instant. Extremely painful, it can last for few seconds or go up to several minutes. The muscle does not relax, which is why you experience such acute pain. Not hard to notice, a muscle cramp often causes the involved muscle to harden.
Most people experience a muscle cramp at least sometimes in their life. It is a common condition and can happen due to several reasons. The most common reason being extreme pressure being exerted on the muscle due to a rigorous workout.
If you are constantly at the receiving end of excruciating pain due to constant muscle cramps, here are certain things you can do to avoid them.
Drink enough water – It is true, water is the remedy to most health problems. You must ensure that your body is well hydrated at all times. The losses as much fluid and replenishing it with water will keep the muscles from contracting.
Avoid popping pills – Constant consumption of medicines, birth control pills, steroids, etc. can affect the muscle cramp. You should try and minimize the intake of these medicines as much as possible.
Limit smoking and alcohol intake – Smoking and drinking cause lack of blood circulation to the muscles. The legs especially fall prey to the effects of bad circulation. Regular smoking can lead this to aggravate thereby making muscle cramps extremely painful.
Healthy food intake – Your body is a reflection of the food you eat. Make sure that you eat food that is healthy and gives your body enough vitamins, calcium, etc. Avoid eating greasy foods that generous on oils and fatty acids.
Prescribed multivitamin tablets – It is possible that the natural foods you eat may not provide your body with all the required vitamins. Ask your doctor to prescribe you multivitamin tablets that you can take every day. This is help in the deficiency thereby controlling muscle contraction.
Go gym easy – If you hit the gym, take your time and go slow on the workouts. Lifting weights and stressing other parts of your body can lead to your muscle reacting in the form of cramps. You have to first condition your body to exercise a little, before doing a full-fledged workout.
Keeping these factors in mind and you will be able to effectively avoid cramps and the pain.