Thursday, May 13, 2010

When it comes to choosing the top ten best credit cards, you'll always find yourself facing conflicting opinions. That's because everyone has a different definition of 'best.' Does best mean the lowest rates, the highest rewards, or the greatest reliability -- just to name a few options.

Furthermore, the rules keep changing. As new laws come into effect, as people and economies change, the criteria keeps on changing -- and so do the cards themselves. How can anyone expect to keep up with all of the changes?

Ways to Stay on Top

It's not easy, but fortunately there are some tips that can help you keep up with the top ten best credit cards -- no matter how they change.

1. Keep up on credit card news in general. The easiest way to do that is to find a fantastic credit card website (I like Credit Card Whiz Kid ) and follow it religiously. That way, you'll always be up to date on everything from new credit card scams to important credit card changes.

2. Define best for yourself. Reading someone else's list of the top ten best credit cards won't do you much good if their criteria are completely different from yours. What are they ranking the cards on, and do those things matter to you? If you know those answers, it'll be easier to find a list where the cards match what you're looking for.

3. Don't be afraid to do your own legwork. Sure, it's nice when someone else takes care of things for you, but you're really the best person to choose your own best credit card. Instead of searching for lists of the top ten best credit cards, find a good website that compares different cards and spend some time searching for your ideal match.

4. Remember to check with your own credit card company. It's amazing some of the deals they'll come up with if you're a good, reliable customer and you express interest in leaving them.

Changes in economies and business do make it difficult to track the top cards, but with a bit of effort and know how, you can stay on top of the changes. Don't worry so much about outdated lists of the top ten best credit cards -- focus instead on finding the card that best suits your individual needs.