Save up for your deposit for a secured credit card

Secured credit cards can offer an opportunity to demonstrate your creditworthiness and graduate to an unsecured card. But you’ll first need to save for the deposit required to get a secured card. There a few doable ways to save for a secured card deposit.

Tips to save money on your secured credit card deposit

Your plan to get a secured credit card must involve a saving strategy that begins with knowing your fixed expenses. Developing new spending habits can yield a lot of savings, but a little assertiveness won’t hurt either.

1. Download a free budgeting app

To avoid late-payment setbacks, set up payment alerts and autopay for your bills.

A free budgeting app such as Mint can be particularly helpful. Use it to set financial goals, track your spending, view your credit score, keep tabs on your investments and balances, pay bills and receive alerts.

2. Download a free mobile banking app

A free mobile banking app can also help you set aside money. For instance, the Qapital app works by moving money from your checking account to a separate account when your transactions trigger preset rules. Wells Fargo makes interest on Qapital-linked accounts.

3. Look into low-income assistance

Many communities offer low-income assistance programs for gas, electricity and other utilities.

Also, if you initially put down a deposit for your utility accounts, ask if you can have it refunded after about a year of timely payments. Some utility providers automatically refund deposits after you’ve established a reliable track record of payments.

4. Get programmable thermostats and energy-saving appliances

Reducing your overall expenses is key to taking control of your personal finances. Even seemingly small steps like installing a programmable thermostat to lower home heating costs or seeking out Energy Star–labeled appliances matter to your long-term financial success. Many utilities offer rebates that partly cover the cost of a programmable thermostat.

5. Reexamine your phone bill

Examine your phone’s service plan, and talk to your provider about ways to bring down your cost. To get a clearer sense about whether your plan is right for you, install a free app to track your data use. If you’re not close to hitting your limits, consider a stepped-down plan.

Using a prepaid carrier or joining a friend or family member’s plan can also reduce your monthly smartphone tab.

6. Ditch cable

Join the growing number of cord cutters by exploring whether Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV or Hulu can replace your cable bill. If you aren’t ready to ditch cable, call your provider to negotiate a cheaper deal.

7. Look into your transportation options

If you live far from work, consider asking your employer if telecommuting — either one day a week or several — is possible.

For good measure, evaluate public transportation, particularly if you live in or near an urban center where trains, buses, carpooling and carshare services, like Zipcar, are available. For those who don’t need a car daily, taxis, rideshare services — like Uber and Lyft — or simply renting a car or using a carshare here and there can save money.

If you do drive, apps like GasBuddy and Gas Guru can steer you to the best gas deals along your route. Also, check if your auto insurance provider offers multiline policies: Bundling your auto and home or rental insurance into a multiline policy can typically shave 10% to 15% off your overall bill.

Why do I need a deposit for a secured credit card?

A secured card’s deposit is similar to the deposit you put down when renting an apartment. Just as a rental deposit protects a landlord if a renter doesn’t pay, the deposit on your secured credit card protects the provider should you find yourself unable to make payments.

Our guide to secured credit cards with low or no deposits

Compare secured credit cards with low minimums or delayed deposits

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Name	Product	Annual fee	Purchase APR	Minimum credit limit	Maximum credit limit
Citi® Secured Mastercard®		$0	22.49% variable	$200	$2,500	A no annual fee secured card for people who are new to credit or have limited credit history.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Self Visa® Credit Card		$25	21.74% variable	$100		Build your credit with a low minimum security deposit of $100 and no credit score required.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card		$35	17.39% variable	$200	$3,000	Apply for this card with no credit check if you're new to credit or have bad credit.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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How to compare secured credit cards

Not all banks offer secured credit cards, and some prefer offering cards to people with no credit history — college students, foreign students and immigrants — rather than to people with a poor credit score or a history of bankruptcy.

Use caution when selecting a secured credit card to apply for. Generally, if you don’t recognize the name of the bank issuer, question the card. Not all secured credit cards are created equal.

• Check that your card reports to credit bureaus. When deciding which secured credit card to apply for, see if the provider reports your responsible spending to at least one of the three credit bureaus, if not all three.

  If an issuer doesn’t report to Equifax, Experian or TransUnion, your secured credit card might not help you develop or reestablish your credit history as quickly.

• Carefully examine the card’s fees. Secured credit cards typically come with an annual fee that can also increase each year. Some secured credit cards charge a monthly fee in addition to the annual fee. Still, others begin charging interest on your purchases immediately after you swipe or dip for them.

  Top-rated secured credit cards do not charge a monthly fee, and none of the secured credit cards that credit experts highly regard charge a cardholder interest at the moment of a purchase. Typically, you have an interest grace period that extends to the end of the billing period.

  When it comes to secured credit cards, consider a monthly fee and no grace period red flags. You’ll often find better solutions to your credit situation.

• Look into minimum and maximum deposits. With secured credit cards, your credit limit typically matches the deposit you initially put down for it. A bigger deposit often means a higher credit limit, which can help boost your credit score more quickly. Although this isn’t always the case as you can sometimes find a $50 deposit secured credit card that offers a higher credit limit than the deposit.

  Consider topping up your secured credit card if doing so won’t affect your overall savings strategy or financial goals. Ultimately, when you’re refunded that deposit, you can put in your emergency savings fund. Two birds, one stone.

  Ideally, your emergency savings fund should be enough to cover your cost of living for three to six months.

• How soon do I have to fund the deposit? Typically, you’ll pay the deposit with your application or after you’re approved for the secured card. That said, be sure to confirm with your provider when your deposit is required.

  After so many months, some issuers refund your security deposit while you continue to enjoy the card and its benefits. Other issuers wait to return your deposit until after you close the account with no balance due.

  However, if you default on your monthly payments, your provider might apply your security deposit to the outstanding credit card balance on your card and close your account.

When can I ask for an upgrade to an unsecured card?

Secured credit cards can be used just like any other credit cards, often with the goal of graduating to an unsecured card.

If your provider doesn’t contact you with the opportunity to upgrade, call them after about a year of responsible payments to ask about trading up to an unsecured card. At that time, you can also ask about a refund on your deposit.

Plan to use your card for small purchases that you can pay off each month. Remember that payment history is 35% of your credit score, making it the largest single item factored into your credit score.

Bottom line

Saving for a secured credit card deposit can help your overall financial health. With some lifestyle changes and calls to negotiate your existing bills, you can hopefully find the money for your card’s security deposit in no time.

Compare secured credit cards to find one that best suits your current and future financial needs.

Frequently asked questions

• How is a secured credit card different from your typical unsecured credit card?

  The main difference between a secured credit card and an unsecured credit card is that secured credit cards typically require a deposit to open and use it.

• How can I graduate or transition to an unsecured credit card?

  The surest way to graduate to a secured credit card involves selecting a reputable secured credit card and using your secured credit card wisely. After a stated period of good standing, your provider may extend the option to upgrade to an unsecured credit card.

• Can I pay the minimum security deposit in increments?

  No. Typically, a secured credit card requires an upfront deposit before it activates your card. Your deposit reduces the risk to the secured credit card issuer.

• Can I increase the credit line on my card so I can do more with it?

  A secured credit card’s credit limit is often linked to your deposit. Your card provider might allow you to top up your deposit to the maximum, thereby extending your credit line. Call your credit card issuer to learn more about how it handles credit lines.