Watch the nightly news and you’re almost certain to see something related to credit cards and debt. Americans lead the world in credit card usage with the average credit card debt of an American household at around $8,400.  Unfortunately, not all card holders manage their cards or their debt responsibly. According to recent statistics, nearly 40% of American families annually spend more than they earn and about 60% of active credit card accounts are not paid off monthly. One of the best features of credit cards is that they are easy to use but that shouldn’t mean that they can be carelessly managed. 

Careful management includes:

  • Charging only what you can afford to pay off each month.
  • Carefully reviewing your statements each and every month.
  • Periodically reviewing your credit report.
  • Knowing your “grace period” and timing your payments so they are posted in advance of that date.

    • Making certain to follow these simple steps can help keep you from becoming another credit card statistic.

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