Credit Card Awareness

Do you really need one?  They are good for emergencies but can lead to high interest payments in addition to your expenditures.  Card use suggestions:

• Carry just one card so you won't "max out" several cards at high interest rates.
• Read the fine print.  Look for a card with no annual fee.
• Cash advances usually have transaction fees attached.
• Check the application or do an online search to find the best annual percentage rate.
• Look for a generous "grace period" which is the amount of time before interest is charged.
• Get a card with a low credit limit of only $500 or $1000 to help you control spending.
• Don't ruin your credit history or worthiness by running up high credit card balances and having trouble paying them.
• If possible, keep the balance paid so no interest accrues.
• Always make payments on time.