Some of the best ways to build credit is to open a credit card and little by little spend and pay of your balance in full. Some people get caught up and end up spending to much or making payments late and this starts to eat away at your score. So here are some dos and don’ts of using your credit cards responsibly.
    Don’t use your credit card to make everyday purchases. This includes buying all your items like food, gas, and clothing. Using your credit card in place of cash can get out of hand. You can go over your limit or loose track an be unable to pay off the full amount at the end of the month.
    Don’t only pay the minimum for your credit card statement. You will just incur more interest. It will give you till the next month, but more than likely your balance will continue to get higher and higher.
    Don’t use your credit card to buy something you can not afford. Everyone knows if they can or can not afford something. So draw your line and don’t pass it. You will end up paying more for the item, this can go all the way up to double the amount.
    Don’t cancel a credit card thinking it will help you. If the credit card you are closing has contributed highly to your credit score then all your good credit can be erased. Also if you close out a credit card that has a balance it will reflect negatively on your credit score.
    Do take your purchases into consideration. Decide if you want or need the item. And if you decide you need the item take a look at it again and see how much you need it. So many times we think we need an item  when we can’t afford it. Think if you could afford going into debt.
    Do let your creditor know if you are going to be late on your monthly payment. In some situations creditors will be more willing to work with you if you let them know before hand instead of thinking you just decided to forgo paying.
    Do stay within 30% of your credit limit. This will affect your debt to credit ratio. Creditors will frown on a person using the full credit amount that  is allotted to that person.
    Do try to negotiate with creditors. Make sure you are receiving the best interest rate you can. If you are receiving offers with a lower interest rate than you have on your current card then contact your creditor. Also periodically check to see if you can get a better interest rate because these can easily change.
    These are just rules to follow that will help you to increase your credit score. Getting out of debt is harder than using your current credit responsibly. So make your choices wisely and use your credit cards responsibly.