Article Writing Homework Help

Write 1 page thesis on the topic analysis of credit card debt. Part1: Most credit cards require that you pay a minimum monthly payment of two percent of the balance. Based upon a balance of $5,270.00, what would be the minimum monthly payment (assuming no other fees are being applied)?

Solution:

Balance, = $ 5,200

Minimum monthly payment, = 2 % = 2/100 = 0.02

Minimum monthly payment of the balance, = 5,200 x 0.02 = $ 105,40

Part 2:

Considering the minimum payment you just calculated, determine the amount of interest and the amount that was applied to reduce the principal. Hint: You’ll need to find the total interest for the year first

Solution:

Balance, = $ 5,200

APR, = 15.53 % = 15.53 / 100 = 0.1553

Minimum monthly payment = $ 105.40

Solution:

Method 1: Thru monthly interest rate

Monthly interest rate = APR / 12 months = 0.1553 / 12 = 0.012942

Monthly interest to be paid on total balance = 5,200 x 0.012942 = $68.20

Principal will be reduced by ,= 105.50 – 68.20 = $ 37.20

Method 2: Thru total yearly interest

APR, = 15.53 % = 15.53 / 100 = 0.1553

Total yearly interest, = 5,260 x 0.1533 = $818.43

Monthly interest , = 818.43 / 12 = $ 68.20

Principal will be reduced by, = 105.50 – 68.20 = $ 37.20

Part 3:

Consider one of your credit cards. What is the balance? How is the minimum monthly payment determined? What would be the minimum payment? How much of the minimum payment goes towards interest? How much of the minimum payment goes towards the principal? If you do not want to share an actual balance or do not have a credit card, calculate these amounts using an imaginary credit card balance.

Now, examine the terms of one of your credit cards or other revolving debt. Are there other charges that the credit card company is applying to your account? Are you receiving a special rate for a limited time? Does your card charge an annual service charge or an inactivity fee?

Solution:

Imaginary credit card balance, = $ 5,000

APR = 22 %

Minimum monthly payment = 3 % of balance

Minimum monthly payment = 5,000 x 0.03 = $ 150

Out of $ 150, interest payment = $ 91.67

Out of $ 150, principal payment = $58.33

New balance = 5,000 – 58.33 = $ 4941.67

A credit card term analysis:

Are there other charges that the credit card company is applying to your account? Answer = No.

Are you receiving a special rate for a limited time? Answer = No.

Does your card charge an annual service charge or an inactivity fee? Answer = No.

Part 4:

Examine a credit card bill (or other revolving debt) and see how long it will take to pay off your debt if you paid only the minimum payments (you can also use an online calculator like the one at http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/managing-debt/minimum-payment-calculator.aspx

Initial balance = $ 3000

APR = 18 %

Payment

of the balance Monthly payment Time to off Total interest paid

2 %$60370 months$7,396.29

3 %$90166 months$2,698.44

4 %$120114 months$1,673.52

5 % $15089 months$1,216.53

Fixed$30011 months$274.87

Part 5:

What steps could you take to pay off this credit card (or debt) sooner? Determine the percentage of the principal that you need to pay down in order to pay off the credit card in the time frame of your choosing.

Solution:

Balance on Credit card, PV = $ 5000

APR = 22 % = 0.22

Monthly interest rate, r = 0.22 / 12

Total payments, n = 12 (Pay off time)

Method: Determine monthly payment using the loan pay off formula (“Finance Formulas”)

Monthly payment, P = (0.22/12 x 5000) / (1 – (1+(0.22/12)) – 12)

= $ 468 (Note: Rounded to the whole number)

Percentage of the principal = 468 / 5000 = 0.0936 = 9.36 % .

I need to pay 9.36 % of the principal every month to pay off in one year.

Part 6:

Many Americans find themselves amassing large amounts of credit card (or other revolving) debt at an early age. What advice concerning the use of credit cards and the fees they charge would you provide to a young adult planning on getting a credit card?

Solution:

Credit card is a part of American culture. The banks issue credit not to help the consumer, but to make money. Interest and Balance are calculated using the following method:

Current month interest calculation = Balance of the previous month x Monthly interest rate

Current month balance calculation = (Balance of the previous month – Payment of the current month) + (Current month expenses + Interest on previous months balance)

One needs to understand the fundamentals of the above calculation method. The credit card debt is revolving debt. Minimum monthly payment will not reduce it to zero. It means that one will be paying interest on interest. An example:

Initial balance = $ 300

APR = 18 %

Monthly interest rate = 1.5 %

MonthPaymentExpenses InterestInitial balance

0—300

130017515 % x 300

= 4.5175 + 4.5 = 179.5

215015015 % x 179.5= 2.69(179.5-150) + 150 + 2.69

= 29.50 + 150 + 2.69 = 182.19

In month 3, interest will be calculated on balance 182.19. This amount contains (179.5-150)

$29.50. In month 2 interests were calculated on this amount. Interest will be calculated on the same amount in month 3. This is called revolving debt. It happens when the debt is not paid in full. Credit card debt is revolving debt.

It is better not to use a credit card. However, use it for an emergency purpose, and not for luxury. This will be my advice.

Reference

Finance Formulas. (n.d.). financeformulas.net. Retrieved from http://www.financeformulas.net/Loan_Payment_Formula.