When you shop on the Internet or over the phone, it's the only good way to make purchases online. This is more convenient than posting a cheque for payment. Like anything convenient, though, having credit cards have its cons.

When you walk into that shop and hand over the card, you don't pay cash rightaway. This can mean that as you do not see less money in your purse or wallet, you may lose track of how much you've spent.

Everyone has a tendency to underestimate what they spend, and smaller amounts can add up quickly on a credit card without you even noticing. It's like taking the way phone bills work and applying it to everything you buy – and that can't be a good idea.

Also, imagine the scenario if you have more than one credit card. You will have to consolidate your charges on all of them as well as those on your debit cards to derive your total spending for the month.

The moment you run an outstanding balance, you're paying the credit card company interest. You're also paying your credit card bill as soon as you get your wages, so you may not have the chance to earn any interest from your bank balances.

The more debt you show you can pay back, the more credit card companies will offer to you in terms of limit and cash advances. The offers are so attractive that sometimes, it's tempting to apply for more than one credit card. Credit card companies also try to make you charge more to credit card by awarding you reward points. The result is that you end up spending more as you get enticed by lucky draws, discounts for shopping, etc.

When you need money in an emergency and you just don't have any, there's no doubt that credit cards can be useful. They are also a very useful way of proving to credit rating agencies that you can handle debt, and this may be taken into consideration when you apply for car loans or a mortgage.

Just remember that whenever you handle credit cards, you've got to learn how to manage your finances. Keep your loans to a minimum, and you will be in greater financial health.