How to streamline your financial life and get fiscally fit

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jan 28, 2008 at 4:54 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 24, 2008 at 5:44 PM EST

Do you ever feel like the statements and credit card offers just keep coming? A Consumer Reports money adviser says cutting down on your credit cards is one of the simplest ways to streamline your financial life.

"Most people only need one or two credit cards. If you carry an American Express or Discover card, you might want to consider adding a MasterCard or a VISA, because they are more widely accepted,” said Consumer Report money adviser Amanda Walker.

If you carry a balance, a website such as bankrate.com or cardrating.com can help you find a credit card with a low, fixed interest rate.

If your current interest rate is too high, look into transferring your balance to another card. But make sure you read the fine print.

"If you transfer a balance to a card with a 0 percent introductory rate, that 0 percent probably only applies to the transferred amount, not to any new purchases on a different card,” explained Walker.

And when it comes to retail store credit cards, which typically have sky-high interest rates, clump them unless you use the perks they offer, such as free shipping for online purchasing and special savings for cardholders. But don't close too many cards at once — it may hurt your credit score.

"If you have, say, a $5,000 balance on seven credit cards, you'll actually have a better credit score than if you have the same $5,000 balance on two cards,” Walker said.

And to keep your credit cards' paperwork under control, shred your bills after one year. Unless you're using credit card statements to support tax deductions, you don't need to save them. It may be the easiest few pounds you'll lose this new year.

Thanks to federal law, you're entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Don't be confused by agencies offering to sell you the same information.

You can find out how to get your free report at annualcreditreport.com.

For more information on managing your credit, go to News Links.

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