Tips for getting and using Credit Cards

• Shop around for the plan that best fits your needs. A credit card should work for your needs not the other way around.
• Get a credit card as soon as you are old enough to get one. This will help to build your credit history.
• Make sure you understand a plan's terms before you accept the card.
• Read the fine prints to make sure there's no extra charges or hidden fees.
• Don't apply for lots of credit cards all at once as it might affect your credit score.
• Cancel a credit card if it ever becomes useless.
• Budget yourself on how much you are spending with the credit cards. You don't want to be paying interest rates at all.
   
• Don't be late on credit card payments. This will affect your credit score.
• Get only the credit cards that you will actually use. More credit cards doesn't mean better credit score. Having too many credit cards will affect your credit score in a negative way.
• Hold on to receipts to reconcile charges when your bill arrives.
• Protect your cards and account numbers to prevent unauthorized use. Draw a line through blank spaces on charge slips so the amount can't be changed. Tear up carbons.
• Keep a record - in a safe place separate from your cards - of your account numbers, expiration dates and the phone numbers of each issuer to report a loss quickly.
• Carry only the cards you think you'll use.
• You can set the billing date, due date for each month to a day that best suits you.