Rule number one here, especially in consideration of the economic problems at the moment, would be to only spend on your credit card what you can afford to pay off each month. Once you start to pay the minimum monthly payment each month, and allow your debt level to increase, this can prove to be a slippery slope to trouble.

If you are thinking about getting a credit card, look at the different interest rates being offered. Use a credit card comparison chart to help you with this: discount the cards with the highest rates and do not pay a fee for the use of the card.

If you have a poor or limited credit history, it is likely that you will not qualify for the best of deals on credit cards. You may be offered one, but at a much higher interest rate and lower credit limit.

It is probably sensible to think that if you have managed all of this time without a credit card - it would probably be best to leave it like that. Banks are never there to help you in this regard and are only ever out to make money from you.

Debit cards make for a far better way of purchasing products, especially online where charges are often lower than with credit cards. This way you can only spend what you have available and this will mean there is far less chance of getting yourself into financial difficulties in the future.