The content is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.

We all love to shop. The experience of being able to buy all that we want and pay it off bit by bit is quite freeing and heartening. Credit cards offer just this opportunity to many people. If you are someone that loves to have the money to spend beyond your means then credit cards are your perfect answer. Of course when you spend that extra amount be sure you can pay it off every month. The quicker you close the balance the better it is. Most people tend to think that they can pay a little bit of it and then wait until later to close the remaining balance. This is not a very good idea, especially when you are having too many other commitments to work on. You could land up with bad credit if you keep postponing your payments.

You can never go wrong when you close what you owe in the payments. The sooner you deal with your debts the better it is for you. Most people make a common mistake of thinking of their credit card as their emergency fund. If you do not have savings set aside then you are in big trouble. Whatever you splurged on using the credit card for the emergency will have to be paid back along with the interests accumulated on it. Bear in mind that credit cards are not emergency options and when you misuse them this way, you will find yourself with too large bills and not enough money.

Another way people end up with debt situations is by signing up for high interest reward cards that are clearly above their budget. When you end up with such expensive cards, you have to be careful how you spend. Carried away by the rewards promotional emails and messages you may spend a little more than planned each time and add up large amounts on your card. If you can get a handle on your spending then you will be able to work on your debts more comfortably. Avoid a bad credit situation by choosing wisely.

High interest cards are not a great idea so make sure you can afford the payments on the card before opting for such expensive deals. When you choose a card with a lower credit limit and no rewards you will have reduced the interest rates you owe as well. That way you are moving towards a more effective spending habit in your life!

Disclaimer: This editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer(s), and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer(s). Reasonable efforts are made to present accurate information, however all information is presented without warranty. Consult a card's issuing bank for the terms & conditions.
All rates and fees, and other terms and conditions of the products mentioned in this article/post are actual as of the last update date but are subject to change. See the current products' Terms & Conditions on the issuing banks' websites.