The best things in life are free. So goes the old cliché. In this day and age, however, nothing comes for free anymore - not the air you breathe or the water you wash your hands with. In fact, even genies of the lamp will find it impossible to grant you three wishes without first asking you to fall in line or pay a deposit first. But who says you need a fairy tale genie to obtain the next best things in life? You don't need a fairy tale or a genie. For that, you need a citi master card.

A citi master card is comparable to a weapon in that it puts vast spending power at your fingertips. As such, it can be subject to misuse and abuse. Do you want that new entertainment system? You can swipe it with your citi master card. In need of a new couch? That, along with other furniture, is just one swipe away. There is very little you cannot buy or do with a citi master card. So, how do you ensure you do not dig yourself into a debtor's hole so deep it's no longer possible to bail you out?

Golden Rules

Where your citi master card is concerned, there are two golden rules to remember. The first is "Know yourself." The second is, "Do onto your card what you would have others do onto you."

The oracle at Delphi offer very good advice: know yourself. After all, with self-awareness comes self-restraint. The only way to curb disastrous spending patterns is to be cognizant that these patterns exist in the first place. Ask yourself the following questions.

1. Do you buy impulsively?

2. Do you feel invisible and left out of the loop each time there is a new trend and you aren't a part of it?

3. If you receive a windfall, do you rush to your favorite store and blow the entire amount on everything you had your eye on while window shopping days back? Or, do you set aside the entire amount as?

4. Do you plan to make monthly payments on your citi master card's credit balance?

5. Will you be using your citi master card frequently or for emergency situations only?

How you answer the questions above should give you some idea about your spending style. Identify your weak and strong points, and consider these to measure your citi master card's compatibility with your needs.

Gone Golden

A citi Master Card is proof that with great power comes great responsibility. If it's unlimited power you're after, however, go for gold. Go for a Gold Master Card. Given only to people with strong credit history, a Gold Master Card puts the power of a wallet that never dries up inside your pocket. Depending upon which bank issued your Gold Master Card, your plastic could have a minimum credit limit of as much as $7,000.

It's true the best things in life are free. The next best things, however, do not. Your citi master card will help you chase happiness the department store way.