What kinds of feelings come to mind when you hear the words "credit cards?" If you are like many other Americans, you probably feel anxious and nervous when you hear these two words put together. This fear and anxiety will pass, however, as soon as you arm yourself with proper information.

Carefully read through all the conditions and terms of your card agreement before using the card. Most credit card companies consider the first use of your credit card to represent acceptance of the terms of the agreement. It may be fine print, but it is still very important.

If you are having trouble with overspending on your credit card, there are several ways to save it only for emergencies. One of the best ways to do this is to leave the card with a trusted friend. They will only give you the card, if you can convince them you really need it.

Learn how to manage your credit card online. Most credit card companies now have online resources where you can oversee your daily credit actions. esta These resources give you more power than you have ever had before over your credit, including, knowing very quickly, whether your identity has been compromised.

It is best to stay away from charging holiday gifts and other holiday-related expenditures. If you can't afford it, either save to buy what you want or just buy less-expensive gifts. Your best friends and relatives will understand that you are on a budget. You can always ask ahead of time for a limit on gift amounts or draw names. The bonus is that you won't be spending the next year paying for this year's Christmas!

You need to pay more than the minimum payment each month. If you aren't paying more than the minimum payment you will never be able to pay down your credit card debt. If you have an emergency, then you could end up using all your available credit. So, each month try to send in a little extra money in order to pay down the debt.

Don't think that interest rates they offer you are written in stone and cannot be changed. There is a great deal of competition amongst the credit card companies, and each has different interest rates. Call your bank if you are unhappy with the interest rate given to you.

If your card's current interest rate does not please you, speak to your bank about lowering it. If they are unwilling to lower the rate, and you have been paying on time, look at other cards with a better rate. After you find one, change to the credit card esta that will service your needs better.

You should try and limit the number of credit cards that are in your name. Too many credit cards is not good for your credit score. Having several different cards can also make it more difficult to keep track of your finances from month to month. Try and keep your credit card count between two and four.

Never allow yourself to open too many credit card accounts. Instead, find two or three that really work for you esta and stick to those. Having too many credit cards can harm your credit and it makes using money that you do not have that much easier. Stick to a couple cards and you will remain safe.

Don't close accounts. Closing an account can hurt your credit score instead of helping. This is because the ratio of how much you currently owe is compared to how much total credit you have available.

Before you pick a credit card be sure that it accepted at most businesses in your area. There are only a few credit card companies that are accepted nationwide, so be sure you know which ones these are if you plan to purchase things around the country. Also, if you plan to travel abroad, be sure you have a card that is accepted where you might travel as well.

How do you feel about credit cards now? Do you feel more confident on how to use them? If so, then great, but if not, that simply means you need to continue educating yourself. By learning all that you can about credit cards, you will feel better about using them.