If you want to initiate a balance transfer to save money on credit card interest, you have to compare balance transfer offers. There are so many to choose from though. Where should you even start? Rather than comparing every single balance transfer credit card side by side, we’re going to help you out. Today we’re going to share our top five picks for balance transfer cards, and tell you exactly what highlights set them apart from the competition.

Here they are — our top five picks for the best deals in balance transfers (current as of the published date): read more..

Macquarie Bank and Jetstar, the budget arm of Qantas Airlines, are teaming together to offer a low interest, low cost, airline rewards MasterCard or Platinum MasterCard in Jetstar’s first introduction to the credit card market.

The new Jetstar MasterCard will carry an interest rate of 10.99% p.a., with 0.0% for balance transfers during the first six months, a $49 annual fee, and up to 55 days interest free. Each dollar spent using the MasterCard will earn one cent of “Jetstar dollars,” which can be used to purchase travel vouchers good for any Jetstar flight to more than 50 destinations. The Platinum MasterCard earns two Jetstar pennies for each dollar spent. read more..

You’ve spent a year or so racking up frequent flyer points on your rewards card. You know you can redeem them towards travel plans, but what if you don’t plan to travel soon and if your credit card company lets points expire after a certain period of time? It might be a “use it or lose it” situation. No need to worry. Whether or not you plan to travel, or if you have enough points for a full plane ticket, you can likely put your frequent flyer points to good use.

Here are some of the things you might be able to get when you redeem your accumulated frequent flyer points: read more..

Infochoice, an analyst group for financial comparisons, released a study comparing the costs of banking yesterday. The study claimed that Australians as a group could save $6.1 billion annually by switching to lower rate banking products—$5.3 billion on home loans, $482 million on personal and car loans (or other sorts of nonrevolving credit), and $275 million on credit card debt.

The Infochoice report claims the average Australian household could save 20% or $4,300 each year, lowering overall banking costs from $21,500 to $17,200, merely by opting for lower-cost banking products. read more..

Did you set a New Year’s resolution to get out of credit card debt (or at least decrease it) during 2009? Do you feel like you’ve failed miserably so far? If so, don’t worry. Even with just two months left this year, it’s not too late to put a dent in your credit card debt and decrease the work you have to do in 2010 to become debt-free.

Even if paying off all of your credit card debt before the end of the year is an impossible feat, don’t let it stop you from making progress in the meantime. Two months is still a significant period of time, and here are a few things you can do to cut credit card debt and save yourself money in the New Year. read more..