by : Jake Truman

Unfortunately, most people don't attempt to get their debt under control until it is too late. Once you have bad credit, it is difficult to get it under control, especially if you have a costly lifestyle. While anyone can get hit with an unexpected expense, there are a number of things you can do to avoid having bad credit, and if you should get into a situation where your credit is less than desirable, there are a number of things you can do to repair it. If you are thinking of using your credit card to pay for something, you should stop and ask yourself if you can pay it off within a month or two.

If the answer to that question is no, this is a sign that you should avoid buying it. Many people make the mistake of using their credit cards to buy things they don't need. More often not, shortly after buying these products, they will find themselves in a situation where they really do need money for something that is crucially important. The best way to keep your credit under control is to minimize the use of credit cards. Try to use cash as much as possible to pay for things, especially every day items. If you want to make a large purchase, putting away money for it may be a smarter option than using you credit card to purchase it.

Under no circumstances should you only be paying the minimum amount on your credit cards. This is fruitless, as it will take you years to pay off the balance due to the interest rate. It is also important for you seek help if you need it. There are a number of debt management programs that can help you get your credit under control, but they won't be able to help you if you don't bother to ask for their assistance. When it comes to bad credit, prevention is the most important factor.

It is more difficult to repair bad credit than it is to avoid having bad credit in the first place. In the end, your personal finances will come down to your responsibility. Banks and credit card companies make billions of dollars per year off the irresponsibility of their customers, and when you owe so much that you find it hard to pay back, you have just put yourself in a situation where you will be paying the credit card companies your hard earned money for many years to come.