With those sparks of summer starting to peek through, many of us are invigorated to get our affairs in order. So if you’re thinking of spring cleaning your finances, it’s best to have an inquisitive mind. Question everything: are you getting the best deal on your electricity bill, your car insurance or TV package? One bill that might skip through the cracks however, is the credit card.

“My bank gave me one years ago. I’ve never thought of changing it.” Does that phrase sound familiar to you? If you don’t tend to pay your credit card in full every month, though, you could be paying that trusted bank of yours a lot more than you need to.

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So the first thing you need to consider is the APR on your credit card, the amount of interest you pay annually. While this interest applies to the items on your credit card that haven’t been paid off at the end of the month, it also takes into account stamp duty and other regular charges.

Consumerhelp.ie helps you compare and, currently, the best deal on the market for APRs is AIB, with their Click Visa Credit Card coming in with an APR of 13.6%. Perhaps you have an AIB card and think you’re getting the best deal, but two other cards that AIB offers – the Be Master Card and Be Visa Card – currently have the highest APRs on the market at 22.7%.

Introductory offers

So why would you opt for one of these cards? Well, they have an introductory offer, whereby you only pay 3.83% for the first 12 months that you have the card. After that, the interest rate will jump up, but there is nothing stopping you from then switching to the Click Visa Credit Card after the year, avoiding the higher interest rate and availing of one of the best interest rates on the market. This isn’t the only introductory offer on the market. If you’ve got a hefty bill that is a challenge to pay off, especially as you’re facing steep interest each month, consider switching to avail of 0% offers.

Clearing that balance

Bank of Ireland, KBC, Permanent TSB, Ulster Bank and even Tesco offer credit cards with a 0% introductory rate for six months, while Bank of Ireland offers it for seven months. This can make a real difference to your finances.

Listen to Ciara Leahy's explanations in our podcast below:

Let’s take Tom O’Sullivan, for example. He has a balance of €2,000 on his credit card. He can only afford to pay off €300 a month, while each month he accrues more and more interest.

Currently, he has an Ulster Bank Gold Mastercard. With an APR of 19.2%, he doesn’t have the best rate on the market, but he certainly doesn’t have the worst either. If he was to transfer to Bank of Ireland’s Platinum Advantage Credit Card, his APR would be 19.6%, not a massive difference. However, by availing of the introductory offer, he would make a saving of €131. Furthermore, if he was to stick with his current credit card, it would take eight months to pay off, while switching will mean it’s done in seven months.

Paying your bill

If, like Tom, you’re not the best at paying off your bill, it’s not just the APR you need to watch out for. Also consider the late payment fees. While AIB and KBC will charge you €7 for late payments, Ulster Bank can charge as much as €8.50.

All these fees can be avoided, however, if you keep on top of your payments. Try and pay off your monthly bill in full but, if this isn’t possible, make sure you pay off the minimum fee. This might only be €10 or €15, but it will ensure that your credit card debt does not affect your credit rating. Remember, though, that the APR will start clocking up on your remaining amount and you will start to pay a lot in interest. Furthermore, you will seriously prolong the financial problem.

How long to clear my debt?

Consumerhelp.ie has a handy “Clearing your Credit Card” ready reckoner. This helps you work out how long it will take to pay off your existing credit card debt with your current provider. It also lets you compare this with the time it would take if you switched the outstanding amount to a different card, for example one with a balance transfer offer. Handy!

Wine o’clock?

Looking to celebrate the longer days with a spring tipple? Here’s our selection of great wines at pretty impressive prices.

Chardonnay Pays d’Oc 2015, Lidl (€6.99): Chardonnay just gets more and more popular and this bottle for €6.99 in Lidl is a real bargain. Textured and full-flavoured on the palate, with delicate pear flavours and an underlying note of white pepper which keeps it refreshing, enjoy this wine on its own, or as an aperitif with lightly spiced dishes.

Domaine de la Baume Les Maries Sauvignon Blanc, Centra (€10 special offer, standard €12.99): French sauvignon has a subtle elegance of citrus flavours washing over the palate. For €10, this wine is excellent value and is topped off with an enjoyable finish. This would work really well if you’re opting for a seafood starter or anything with a slightly Asian feel.

Soalheiro Alvarihno, JN Wines (€18.99 or €17.09 bulk buy): If you’re looking for something really different that is guaranteed to impress, then check out jnwines.com. With offices in Dublin and Co Down, they import artisan wines from small growers throughout the world. If you’re a fan of Spanish Albarino wine, then this Alvarihno from Portugal is worth a purchase. The wine regions are very close with only a border separating them. It’s got a lovely acidity, really fresh with a creamy, peachy fruit. It would work great with scallops, prawns or crab or even a simple fresh salad.

Intrigo Negroamaro IGT Puglia, Centra (€9 special offer, €11.99 standard): If you’ve got friends over this weekend and you’re thinking of keeping it simple with some cured meats and hard cheese, then this plumy warm wine is full of sunshine with a soft finish.

Romeral Rioja Crianza, Marks & Spencer (€16.49) : Looking for something to pair with a delicious chocolate dessert? This Rioja from Marks & Spencer is an exceptionally smooth and mellow red wine. Again it’s got a delicious plum flavour which is also complimented with subtle hints of spice and vanilla.

Paco Garcia Crianza Rioja, JN Wines (€18.99 or €17.09 bulk buy): Yes, another Rioja but this Paco Garcia Crianza is a modern style Rioja where the fruit is brought to the fore. Easter may be over but if you’re still enjoying some spring lamb, it’s the perfect accompaniment because it has lovely bright juicy flavours which works well as lamb has a subtle sweetness in its flavour. It has a good acidity which will cut through the meat.