If you are like most people, you have received plenty of credit card offers in the mail. No doubt you have also seen them advertised on the television, in newspapers and in magazines. You can't get away from them! However, finding the right credit card to suit your needs should not be your only consideration. Using your credit card responsibly is even more important.

High Street stores are always too willing to give you some sort of discount the day you sign up for a card, and lets face it, the extra 10% discount is usually very tempting. After this discount, you find yourself stuck with another monthly credit card bill.

The biggest problem with credit cards today is that people believe that they aren't really spending money. There isn't anything missing from our wallets or purses, so it becomes very easy to pull out the card whenever and wherever we need it.

Credit cards were not made with budgeting in mind, because each month, there is a payment that has to be paid, and even though being able to meet the minimum payment does not bring about any sort of late payment fees, just look at the balance, it is more or less standing still!

Ask yourself how long it would take you to completely get rid of the debt if you did not charge another cent to the account. Never consider getting another card to transfer the balance to unless it is one offering interest free credit for the amount of time it will take you to pay off the debt.

To avoid the worst problems of credit card usage, don't have too many of them. One, or at the most two, of them is enough to meet most needs, and the major credit cards are accepted globally so you don't need to apply for new credit cards when you travel overseas. Having too many credit cards can become an organizational nightmare; too many due dates can leave bills forgotten, late and receiving costly late payment penalties.

Another credit card temptation that can get you in a lot of trouble is the ability to borrow cash on your card. This is known as a cash advance and it enables you to withdraw cash from your card via an ATM. However, this form of borrowing is usually charged at high interest, calculated daily, and is ultimately a very expensive way to borrow. It can be too easy to create a level of debt that is too high for you to service. If you are going through a difficult time, withdrawing money from your credit card can seem a godsend. Unfortunately, your debt can climb dramatically over the course of a few months and with exorbitant interest rates you can find yourself in real trouble. It is also a good idea to stick to a low cost, no frills credit card that offers low interest and no annual fee.

If you are one to use an ATM regularly, you will find that your debt will build up and soar over a small time of just a few months. Interest can go as high as 24%, so avoid this. It makes much more sense to avoid temptations such as rewards and bonuses. Try to opt for a credit card with no frills, no annual fee, and a low interest rate.

When trying to establish a good credit history, you can do so by using a credit card correctly. Your payments have to be on time. It is important that your credit rating stays healthy, especially in the case that you need to buy something big, like a car. During these times, you will be rewarded for having good credit history. As much as some of us love them, shopping sprees aren't needed. Neither are cash advances and late payments. These all go into your credit rating, so if you are looking to use your credit card to build up good credit, only spend what you know you can afford to pay back each month.