 TITLE: How to Get Started With Travel Rewards Credit Cards CONTENT: When to Apply for a Travel Rewards Credit Card\n----------------------------------------------\nNow that you have narrowed down the choices and settled on one or two travel rewards credit cards, you need to pick the right time to apply. Your decision will likely be influenced by the following factors:\n1.  A high welcome offer: Many credit cards offer approved applicants the opportunity to earn tens of thousands of bonus points or miles by meeting certain spending requirements within the first few months. However, these offers can change from time. For example, the American Express Gold® Card, another card that may only let you carry a balance for certain charges, is currently offering new cardholders up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points after they spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. Applying for a card when its introductory offer is higher than usual can net you tens of thousands of extra points.\n2.  Annual fee waived the first year: Sometimes, as part of the introductory package, travel credit cards offer to waive their annual fees for the first year. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is currently waiving its $99 annual fee for the first year. That means you can apply for the card and carry it for a year enjoying its benefits before you have to pay an annual fee to do so. Terms apply.\n3.  Low or 0% intro APR: Some credit cards offer an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) on balances and balance transfers from other cards for a several months after you open your account.  \n    For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is currently offering new cardholders 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 months, after which the card's standard APR of 14.99% to 23.74% (variable) kicks in.\n    While you should always consider how carrying a balance can affect your credit in terms of your credit utilization, avoiding interest charges for short periods can be not only convenient, but extremely useful if your financial circumstances have recently changed.\n4.  Whether you can pay off your balance in full every month: The final, and perhaps most important, rule for applying for and using travel rewards credit cards is to do everything possible to pay off your balance on time and in full every month. Doing so will keep your credit in good standing and even help raise your score over time. Carrying a balance can not only lower your credit score, the interest and late fees you rack up can wipe out the value from any points or miles you earn with your card. END