 |
| PINNACLE
CREDIT UNION |
DECEMBER
2003 |
0%
Financing--Not Just For Cars
Almost every
U.S. automaker offers 0% financing, but did you know that 0% financing
also is available for furniture, electronics and appliances?
Before you
rush out and buy a new bedroom set, hold on. Those great offers
aren’t always as great as they seem.
One big problem
with these offers is that they often lead consumers to impulse buy
or spend more than they can afford. You hear this 0% financing offer
and think it sounds great. But stop and ask yourself, “Was
I planning on purchasing this item before I heard about this? Can
I afford this item?”
If you really
want the item, ask the retailer what its terms are. Many people
accept offers without being aware of the consequences.
|
Light
Up Your Holiday Shopping With a Pinnacle Credit Union Visa®
Has lack
of ready cash left you in the dark for gift ideas? Shed some
light on your holiday shopping with a Pinnacle Credit Union
VISA. Don’t make your holiday purchases with a high-interest
credit card that will keep you paying for Christmas well into
the new year. Choose the convenience and savings of either
a Pinnacle VISA Classic or VISA Gold.
Our
Visa Gold offers:
•
Low annual fee
• Low interest rate
• 25-day grace period
• No transaction fee for cash advance
Our
VISA Classic offers:
•
No annual fee
• Low interest rate
• World-wide acceptance
• No transaction fee for cash advance
So, keep
the season bright. Before you shop, drop those other credit
cards for a Pinnacle VISA. For more information, call the
credit union at 404-888-1648. |
For example, keep
in mind that just because you get 0% financing for, say, 12 months,
doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay. If you don’t
pay off the item before those 12 months are up you’re going
to face some hefty interest charges.
Let’s
say you buy a $600 couch with a 12-month, 0% financing offer. As
part of the terms of your contract, if you haven’t fully paid
for the couch by the due date, a 20% annual percentage rate (APR)
will accrue from the date of purchase. So if you haven’t completely
paid for that couch after 12 months, you’ll owe an additional
$120--no matter how much money you have left to pay. And the cost
of that couch rises to $720.
Even if you
know the terms and plan to pay the entire balance before the specified
date, stop and think. A lot of things can happen in a year. There
is no way for you to know what financial obstacles you are going
to run into.
If you really
need an item, and you can’t afford the entire thing right
now, stop by Pinnacle Credit Union and see what kind of financing
we can offer. You’ll often find a better deal here.
Pinnacle
Credit Union wishes you a safe and happy holiday season!
|