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Credit cards have almost become naughty words in our society today. Our dependence on them is not good. Many people don't feel as though they could live without them. Others know that the credit history that they build is essential, in order to have many of the things we take for granted such as a car or a home. This article will help educate you about their proper usage.

If you have any credit cards that you have not used in the past six months, then it would probably be a good idea to close out those accounts. If a thief gets his hands on them, you may not notice for a while, because you are not likely to go looking at the balance to those credit cards.

Make the minimum monthly payment in the very least on all of your credit cards. Not making the minimum payment on time can cost you a great deal of money over time. It can also cause harm to your credit rating. To protect both your expenses, and your credit rating be sure to make minimum payments on time each month.

Do not use credit cards to purchase things you could not afford. The fact that you desire a new television is not sufficient justification for charging it on a credit card. You will end up paying a lot of money in interest charges, and the amount you need to pay every month might be too much for you. Leave the item in the store and think about the purchase for at least a day or two before making a final decision. If you are dead set on buying the item, ask the store if they can beat your credit card's interest rate.

You should contact your creditor, if you know that you will not be able to pay your monthly bill on time. Many people do not let their credit card company know and end up paying very large fees. Some creditors will work with you, if you let them know the situation ahead of time and they may even end up waiving any late fees.

Credit cards can be a great help in your life for helping your manage your finances. Not only are they good for building good credit, but they also can give you a backup plan, copy editing in case of times where you incur unintended financial burdens. Check out this article for great information about credit cards.

Make sure you save your statements. Before you file them away, pay close attention to what is on them as well. If you see a charge that shouldn't be on there, dispute the charge. All credit card companies have dispute procedures in place to assist you with fraudulent charges that may occur.

If your credit score is not low, try to find a credit card that does not charge many origination fees, especially a costly annual fee. There are plenty of credit cards out there that do not charge an annual fee. Find one that you can get started with, in a credit relationship that you feel comfortable with the fee.

It is wise to have two or three different credit cards available for your use. You will improve your credit score. Paying off all of your cards monthly helps even more. But, if you have over three cards open, creditors may look upon that fact unfavorably.

Do not use one credit card to pay off the amount owed on another until you check and see which one has the lowest rate. While this is never considered the best thing to do financially, you can occasionally do this to make sure you are not risking getting further into debt.

An important tip when it comes to smart credit card usage is, resisting the urge to use cards for cash advances. By refusing to access credit card funds at ATMs, you will be able to avoid the frequently exorbitant interest rates, and fees credit card companies often charge for such proofreading services.

Credit cards are more and more being used by many people who like them more than the fees and regulations associated with bank credit cards. As credit cards grow, you can benefit for what they have to offer. Implement the information you have gleaned from this article to work to your best advantage.

Make sure you are consistently using your card. You do not have to use it frequently, but you should at least be using it once a month. While the goal is to keep the balance low, it only helps your credit report if you keep the balance low, while using it consistently at the same time.

Whenever you are considering a new credit card, you should always avoid applying for credit cards that have high interest rates. While interest rates compounded annually may not seem all that much, it is important to note that this interest can add up, and add up fast. Make sure you get a card with reasonable interest rates.

If you are denied a credit card, find out why. It costs nothing to check the reporting agencies, after you have been denied credit by a card issuer. Recent federal laws require that issuers supply the information that creditors used to deny an applicant. Use this information to improve your score in the future.

Shred old credit card receipts and statements. You can easily purchase an inexpensive home office shredder to handle this task. Those receipts and statements, often contain your credit card number, and beta readers if a dumpster diver happened to get hold of that number, they could use your card without your knowledge.