A cheapskate’s guide to shopping for credit cards

Cheapskates and low spenders aren’t the ideal credit card customers for banks because they’re typically not as profitable as fast-swiping spendthrifts who rack up finance charges. Still, banks offer credit cards with features that can fit well into a frugal lifestyle.

Some penny pinchers prefer paying only with cash, especially if they think the pain of handing over dollar bills instead of plastic helps to rein in spending. But credit cards can have appeal for their ability to help build credit, along with the allure of getting something for nothing with rewards cards.

There’s no such thing as a “best” credit card. The key is finding one that fits your spending habits — even if your habit is to spend little, experts say.

“If you look at dumb things that smart people do, that’s one of them — get into a product that’s not for them,” says Paul Golden , spokesman for the National Endowment for Financial Education . “People who live more on the frugal side tend to be much more thoughtful and cautious about how they’re using credit. So they’re really going to be looking at the features of a card.”

Four-person U.S. households annually spend an average of about $80,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Much of that can be charged to a credit card. But what if you spend nowhere near that much?

Here are credit card features that may appeal to low spenders:

• NO ANNUAL FEE. Many cheapskates might find paying

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ELISE AMENDOLA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE A customer buys groceries with a credit card.