Published on: 15 April 2023
Last Updated on: 09 February 2026
Whether you are a new credit card holder or have been using it for a while, you must have come across some credit card jargon that is hard to decipher. For instance, if you decide to apply for a credit card online, you might need to understand the annual fee, interest rate, and other charges applicable to that card. Even though all credit cards work in the same way, they differ a lot in terms of the benefits and rewards they offer. So, to make it easier for you to understand the basic credit card terminology and choose the best one, here is a quick guide for you.
Annual Fee
Card companies may charge annual fees on credit cards. This might range from a few hundred to a few thousand depending on the benefits you can avail yourself of on the card. However, certain providers may waive the fee for the first year, while others, may offer credit cards that are free for a lifetime. So, depending upon the kind of benefits you seek, you may choose a lifetime free credit card or a card that has an annual fee but may waive it off on spending a certain amount.
Credit Limit
This is the overall spending limit or credit line provided by the card issuer. There are several criteria such as your credit score, income, repayment history, as well as the length of your relationship with the bank that determines your credit card limit. Banks may sometimes offer you higher limits if you already have high limits on your existing cards along with a strong repayment history.
Additionally, when checking your credit card limit, there are further three terms that you must be aware of Total Credit Limit and Available Credit Limit.
Total Credit Limit: This is the credit limit granted by the bank when the card is issued. The total limit can also be increased when you request for the same or if you accept a limit increase offered by the provider.
Available Credit Limit: This is the credit limit that is available on one's credit card at any one moment. In other terms, the available credit limit is the difference between the entire credit limit and the card's current outstanding balance.
Cash Limit: Card issuers also offer a certain portion of your total credit limit as cash limit. This defines the amount of cash you can withdraw using your credit card. However, cash withdrawal from credit cards should be the last resort as cash withdrawal is not eligible for the interest-free period and even a small amount can escalate to a huge debt.
Billing Cycle
The billing cycle refers to the period between the closing of the previous statement and the new statement date. Your credit card provider compiles your statement at the end of your billing cycle, and you have until the due date to make the payment.
Due Date
This is the specified monthly date by which all outstanding payments must be made. To avoid late payment penalties and high-interest charges on unpaid dues, you must make the payment on or before the due date.
Total Amount Due And Minimum Amount Due
At the end of each billing cycle, a new statement is generated and it shows the dues that you owe on your card. Total amount due, as the name suggests, is the total sum that you owe to the issuer, and on making full payment, no charges will be applicable.
However, if you cannot afford to pay the total due, card providers give you the option to pay the minimum amount due to keep your card active and avoid late payment charges. It is usually 5% of the total due and also includes any active EMIs, additional fees, charges, etc. An important thing to note is that on making only the minimum payment, the rest of the outstanding balance starts attracting finance charges and new transactions become ineligible for the interest-free period as well. This is why you should always pay the total due and not just the minimum amount.
Finance Charges And APR
Interest rates on credit card balances are known as finance charges and APR is the annual percentage of interest. It is the rate of interest on all transactions from the date of the transaction until the cardholder's balance is paid back in full. Note that interest on credit cards is compounded on a daily basis.
Being acquainted with these terms will ensure judicious use of the card and help you stay out of debt.
Additionals:
Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.
If you are an investor in Australia, it's likely you have come across the term "franked dividends." But what exactly are franked dividends, and why are they important to understand? This article will provide a comprehensive guide to franked dividends, including what they are, how they work, and why they can be a valuable addition to your investment portfolio.
What is a Franked Dividend?
You may be wondering, “what is a franked dividend?”A franked dividend is a type of dividend payment made by an Australian company that has already paid corporate tax on its profits. The term "franking" refers to the process of crediting the tax already paid to the shareholder who receives the dividend.
The Australian tax system allows companies to pass on the benefit of the tax they have already paid to shareholders through franked dividends. This means that shareholders receive the full value of the dividend, as well as a tax credit for the amount of corporate tax paid by the company. The tax credit can be used to offset the shareholder's own tax liability, reducing their overall tax bill.
How Franked Dividends Work
To understand how franked dividends work, it's important to understand the basic structure of the Australian tax system. Companies in Australia pay corporate tax on their profits at the rate of 30%. When a company declares a franked dividend, it passes on some of these profits to shareholders, along with a tax credit.
The tax credit is calculated as the amount of corporate tax paid by the company, divided by the number of shares outstanding. For example, if a company pays $100 in corporate tax and has 1 million shares outstanding, each shareholder would receive a tax credit of $0.10 per share.
Shareholders can then use the tax credit to offset their own tax liability. If the shareholder's marginal tax rate is less than 30%, they will receive a cash refund for the difference. For example, if the shareholder's marginal tax rate is 20%, they would receive a cash refund of $0.10 for every $0.50 of franked dividends received.
Why Franked Dividends are Important
Franked dividends can provide several benefits to investors, including:
Increased income: Franked dividends provide shareholders with a higher level of income compared to unfranked dividends, as the tax credit increases the overall value of the dividend.
Tax benefits: As mentioned, shareholders can use the tax credit from franked dividends to offset their own tax liability, reducing their overall tax bill.
Lower risk: Companies that pay franked dividends are typically well established, with a proven track record of profitability. This makes them a lower-risk investment compared to companies that do not pay dividends.
Diversification: Adding franked dividend-paying stocks to your investment portfolio can provide diversification, as these stocks tend to come from different sectors and industries compared to other types of investments.
Long-term growth: Companies that pay franked dividends are often focused on long-term growth, which can benefit investors in the form of capital appreciation and future dividend payments.
Conclusion
Franked dividends are a valuable component of the Australian tax system, providing investors with increased income, tax benefits, and diversification opportunities. By understanding how franked dividends work, you can make informed decisions about your investment portfolio and take advantage of the benefits they offer. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just starting out, franked dividends can be a valuable addition to your portfolio.
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Before you even start to know about credit score reset, first it is very necessary to understand why it actually matters.
A significant part of your financial health is dependable on your overall credit score. So, a low credit score can be an immense amount of stress.
A poor credit score can eventually limit your financial options. But how does this low credit score happen? Well, if you miss payments, have high debts, or even lack a credit history, it leads to a bad credit score.
Now, if you are someone with a low credit score, then you may have to struggle a lot just to get a loan approval. You may also find difficulties in securing a reasonable interest rate or worse? Renting a house.
Rebuilding a credit score can be a difficult path. The process may feel a little daunting, but some easy and comprehensive steps can help you get in credit score reset.
First, Let’s See! How Does The Credit Score Affect You?
Let’s say you are willing to borrow $200,000, which will be in the form of a fixed rate thirty years of mortgage.
Now, if you have a credit score in the highest category, let’s say 760-850. In that case, the lender may charge you around 3.307 percent interest for the loan. So, you will be expected to make a monthly payment of around $877.
Now, let’s say your credit score is very low. Somewhere around 630 to 639. die to the low credit score; the lenders may charge you 4.869 percent, amd you will have to pay around $1061 in a month.
So, as you can see, due to the low credit score, you are actually going to pay $184 more than the mortgage. Just think about the things that you could do with that extra amount of money. I hope by now you have understood why it is necessary to have a credit score or a credit score reset.
Steps To Achieve The Credit Score Reset
Most of us want to build financial stability, but not all of us know how to get there. If you’re hoping to reset your financial well-being, consider resetting your credit score.
While it can be a challenge to stay on top of it, improving your credit score is always going to be good for your financial health. So, here are some tips to help you do just that. Take a look:
Stay on top of your credit report.
If you want to be confident that you’re making progress and avoiding credit score mistakes, a credit report can help you stay on top of things.
Some sites offer free credit reports on a regular basis so that you can easily see areas where you could improve or see areas of progress.
If you’re someone who is working hard to improve your credit and get to where you want to be with financial stability, a credit report is a must-have.
Pay off your credit debt.
If you have credit card debt but want to improve your overall credit score, make a plan to fix this. With the best budgeting software, you can more easily see your total income.
You can even check where your money is going and how you can start making more significant payments on your debt.
The sooner you pay off your credit card debt, the better it can be for you and your attempts at getting a better credit score. While you’re working hard on paying off credit card debt, try to avoid getting into any new credit card debt.
It may take practice to not reach for your credit card but the progress you make with your finances will be more than worth it.
Smartly shop for loans.
If you do need to take out new loans, take your time when researching options. Be careful about those loans that could be impacting your overall credit score and charging high interest rates. If you have a decent credit score right now, you should be able to get a decent rate. However, be careful.
There can be hidden fees and rates you weren’t expecting if you don’t take the time to read the fine print. Before ever taking out a loan, consider the pros and cons so that you don’t unnecessarily commit to paying off new debt.
Spend less
If you’re having a hard time paying off your debt, it could be because you’re overspending in other ways. You can use an expense tracking app to help you see ways where you could be overspending and unnecessarily spending your money. This may look like unused subscriptions or random charges on things that you didn’t remember buying.
It could help you see ways you spend money. You don’t need to if you simply switched up your habits (such as cooking meals at home versus ordering DoorDash). Spending less to get ahead is more than worth the effort it may take you.
Consolidate your debt
There’s a way to pay off your debt in one shot when it’s spread all over. That’s with a debt consolidation loan. While you’ll still need to pay off your debt, it will be in one payment at a time, making it easier for you to keep up with it.
You definitely want to take your time when choosing this type of loan. One with little to no interest would be essential to consider. Still, it could make it easier for you to plan for a quicker debt payoff, which would significantly impact your credit score.
How To Determine Your Credit Score?
So, how exactly do the credit bureaus determine the credit score? Well, Fair Issac Corporation, or the FICO, has come up with a fantastic scoring system for the three credit bureaus while considering the following 5 points:
ComponentComponent weightNew credit (inquiries)10%Type of credit10%Length of credit history15%How much you owe30%35%35%
In Conclusion If you’re ready to improve your credit score, consider these tips to help you get your financial well-being where you want to be. The better your credit score, the easier it will be to make monetary gains.
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Have you been practicing law for a while? Today, many lawyers are stepping into the entrepreneurship world to open their law firms. Indeed, practicing under experienced lawyers gives a lot of exposure but having autonomy at work is equally vital. You can choose clients and legal cases of your choice and practice in a particular area. Likewise, you can enjoy flexibility and freedom, make decisions, and set your priorities.
However, most lawyers don’t understand that starting a law firm is more than practicing law. Apart from legal responsibilities, you have to recruit people, market the law firm, and most importantly, manage finances. You have to document a long-term financial strategy to stay on top of your daily budget and earn profits. At the same time, you have to manage taxes, acquire funding, handle invoices, and much more.
To help you get started, here is a comprehensive guide to law firm finance in 2021.
1. Create a Long-Term Financial Strategy:
As a law firm owner, you have to establish a vision for the firm’s future. Do you picture a multi-lawyer firm handing corporate clients? Or you want to step into litigation or criminal law? Having a clear idea of long-term goals will help in creating a well-defined financial strategy. You can start putting funds aside for expansion from the beginning.
Likewise, you have to keep up with numbers, forecasts, and budgets to manage the day-to-day cash flow. You have to ensure the business has enough funds to secure new clients and take cases to trial. After all, not every case settles. However, if you don’t have a knack for numbers, consider learning the ropes.
You can look for virtual programs such as MSF online to avoid the hassle of traveling to college. After all, online education gives students a lot of flexibility, motivating them to keep learning. As for your law firm, it will help in managing finances efficiently while practicing law.
2. Get Access to Funding:
Although you are stepping into a service business, you will need a hefty amount of capital and cash to start a law firm. From office rentals, conference rooms, stationary costs to staffing – you will come across a long list of expenses. Therefore, look for ways to obtain capital for your law firm. Here are some of the options you can explore.
Savings:
Whenever starting a business, make sure a small chunk of the capital comes from personal savings. That way, you will keep working in the game because you won’t be liable to another person when things get tough.
Bank Loan:
You can start with a few thousand dollars, but more capital gives lawyers enough runway to make the business profitable. Hence, if your savings don’t seem sufficient, opt for a bank loan or open a credit line to raise capital.
Startup Incubators:
Today, many incubators connect new business owners with funding to get going. Often, they use their contacts with angel investors to fund new businesses or seek help from venture capitalists.
3. Manage Taxes:
Most attorneys operating law firms aren’t aware of legal obligations. As a result, taxes hit them in surprising ways. You might get a call from Internal Revenue System (IRS) or a hefty fine for missing the deadline.
Similarly, many lawyers have difficulty categorizing deductibles. You might think everything is deductible, whereas your tax liability is higher than you predicted. These pitfalls not only halt business operations but are super pricey too.
Hence, consider bringing an experienced tax specialist on board. However, if you don’t have a budget for additional hiring, learn about the taxation policies yourself. It doesn’t mean you have to go back to school; instead, look for online programs. You can opt for an online LLM tax program and learn from the comfort of your home and office. It will help you plan for tax liability, closing doors for IRS audit, and incorrect tax deductions.
4. Streamline Invoicing & Payment System:
Usually, lawyers have different payment policies. When dealing with corporate clients, they charge a monthly fee and have separate legal charges for cases. On the other hand, they don’t charge when fighting for accident victims until the negligent party’s proven guilty. Despite having different payment policies, you must have an appropriate invoicing and payment system at the firm. You can leverage savvy software to automate the firm’s finances.
Moreover, record your income correctly. If you charge a retainer fee, treat it as an advance payment and track its spending on every case. Similarly, avoid recording any income in your financials until you have won the case. It will give you a realistic view of the firm’s financial position, making sure you are on the right track. Besides this, don’t forget to set flexible billing terms with the clients and discuss everything upfront to avoid issues later.
5. Prepare Budgets, Reports, & KPIs:
Having a budget is imperative for your law firm’s financial success. You have to estimate your expenses and the revenue you expect to earn. It will give you a solid idea of how much you should work to make the business profitable. Likewise, you have to prepare financials to catch a glimpse of profitability.
Well, to begin effective financial reporting, you have to start with the bookkeeping basics. You have to record all financial transactions and maintain a separate account for every client.
After this, you can prepare an income statement and balance sheet to determine the law firm’s equity. Also, create a cash flow statement to understand how much cash goes out and comes into the business. All these financials will be a brilliant source of insights about your law firm. You can spot trends, overcome weaknesses, and capitalize on your strengths to make the business more profitable.
Final Thoughts:
Every successful law firm considers numbers and data first. You have to create an excellent financial plan with a growth vision to make your law firm successful. Similarly, you have to manage cash flow, follow a detailed billing process, and raise sufficient capital. As you progress forward, a strong financial position will unfold new growth opportunities. You can tap into new practice areas, offer more services, and expand your team.
Read Also:
How To Choose A Practice Management Software For Your Law Firm
How Do Law Firms Help Companies with Their Real Estate Issues?
This is the overall spending limit or credit line provided by the card issuer. There are several criteria such as your credit score, income, repayment history, as well as the length of your relationship with the bank that determines your credit card limit. Banks may sometimes offer you higher limits if you already have high limits on your existing cards along with a strong repayment history.
Additionally, when checking your credit card limit, there are further three terms that you must be aware of Total Credit Limit and Available Credit Limit.
The billing cycle refers to the period between the closing of the previous statement and the new statement date. Your credit card provider compiles your statement at the end of your billing cycle, and you have until the due date to make the payment.
