Taking advantage of only the best credit options on the market will allow you to weather this turbulent storm without sinking deeper into the cesspool of credit debt like so many others.

One of these lines of credit is reward credit cards. These cards reward consumers who use them to purchase certain goods with rewards options such as free air miles or cash back. This can have the effect of causing consumers to over-indulge in the card's usage, but consumers who actively weigh the rewards against the associated fees coming back can use these cards as a powerful tool.

The most important point to adhere to is the payment in full of your monthly bill each month. By doing so, you'll be receiving the minimum amount of interest rates, which should be more than negated by your rewards program.

By this token though, if you're being rewarded with items or other rewards that have no real value to you, the effects are all but lost. You should choose a card with a rewards program that will reward you with items that you would be spending money on anyway. Cash back is always good, as are things like free gas or even groceries.

Reading the fine print of your contract is of utmost importance. Your rewards may allow you to receive items at a certain store for example, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be redeemable for anything in that store, which could limit their usefulness. Points may cap earlier than one might expect as well, or even expire rather quickly, so knowing these things makes all the difference. Know exactly what you can do with your rewards points, how they are accrued and what other fees are associated with use of the card. Only by analyzing these points can you effectively determine the worth of the card.

Don't forget that the majority of your recurring monthly bills can be charged to your rewards card for additional spending. This has the added effect of allowing you to save the money that would be used immediately on those bills into a savings account until the credit card balance is due, allowing you to collect extra interest. It's also a great way to see the majority of your expenses through one statement.

Also consider paying for any business expenses with your card. This will allow you to gain the points while being reimbursed for the purchase by your employer. For employees who travel or perform other business functions often, this can be a great way to build up points.

Lastly, remember that not making your scheduled payments on time may not only result in bad credit and increased fees, but could warrant the cancellation of your rewards points for that month as well. See the fine print on low balance credit card transfers. Again, read the fine print so you know precisely what will happen should you be late with a payment.

Consumers who can effectively make their payments each month will find that rewards cards truly do reward them. If you're not in a position where making these payments each month is a guarantee, you may be better off holding off on any type of credit line, as the additional fees will most likely outweigh the rewards offered.