Charity Cards: Making a Difference When You Spend
Many people like to donate to annual charity events like Sports relief, or sponsor charities in fun runs or the London Marathon, but you don't need to limit yourself to donating annually. You can give all the year round if you use a charity credit card.
It doesn't matter which charity you like to support, there's probably a credit card out there somewhere that will be suitable for you. Some credit cards are aimed at a specific charity like the MBNA Visa card that supports Breast Cancer, while others such as the Barclaycard Charity Visa donate to a number of different charities. Cancer charities, Children's charities, animal charities, the World Wildlife Fund and even the National Trust can all be supported by various cards currently available in the marketplace.
Initial and Continuing Donations
Most card issuers will give a donation to charity when you initially open your account this can be anything from £5-£20. They will then give a small percentage whenever you spend on your card. The more money you spend on your card the more money the card issuer donates to charity, so if you use your card on a regular basis you will be donating a substantial amount to charity throughout the year.
Pick a Card That Works For You Too
When choosing a charity card you should look for the best deals possible to maximise your charity donations. Shop around for one that offers a low APR or an introductory deal for a limited period and make sure the deal on offer fulfils all your needs, or you may not get any benefits from it. If you choose the right deal it could mean that if you use your card regularly throughout the month and pay off any balance in full on a monthly basis, you could make donations to the charity of your choice without it actually costing you anything at all.
Donations Only On Spending
It's worth noting that most charity cards don't offer donation deals on introductory offers or balance transfers. So if you do have an outstanding balance no donation will be made to your charity against this amount when you complete the transfer. The percentage the lenders give is only on any current spending you may make with your new card.
It's true that charity cards don't provide great value when compared to other types of credit cards on offer. But they do make it an easy way to donate regularly to your choice of charity and as most charities will tell you - every little amount, no matter how small, really does help!
