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. 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 unwilli