One way to break free from the spending habit is to look at the credit in terms of total outstanding balances instead of minimum monthly payments. Each month, pay off all new charges on your cards, plus interest and a portion of the previous balance. You’ll reduce each month’s debt balance below the previous month’s. […]

Many people look to credit cards as a way of extending their paycheck. But in fact, you end up with less money, not more. Never get a cash advance with a credit card. Many checking accounts have overdraft features that can be very dangerous to the person who has difficulty in the spending control area. […]

Get in the habit of paying as you go. Paying cash for an item not only gives a person that sense of confidence and well-being, it keeps debt at a lower balance than the previous month. If you do charge for an item with the intention of paying it off when the bill comes due, […]

A quick word about seeking credit. Too many inquiries for your credit report can harm your credit rating. It may look like you are applying for credit from too many sources and are over-extending yourself. One potential problem for you is that inquiries may be made without your knowledge, even when you haven’t applied for […]

When you have decided to change credit card companies, be sure to notify the company of your intention to cancel. Otherwise it may look like you have a lot of credit available to you and you may not get new credit if you seek it in the future. A credit report will list all your […]