There are stories all over the Internet and the news about people who got over their heads in debt by using a credit card. Before applying for a credit card for the first time, you must consider what you will be using the credit card for and fully understand what could happen through misuse. Make sure you will be able to pay your bill on time and do not charge more than you are capable of paying back. If you are planning to use a credit card to buy tons of consumer electronics and high-end clothing, it may very well be a bad idea to apply for a credit card. However, if you are planning to use it only for emergencies, having one can be a valuable thing.

Every year thousands of people get in debt and lose their valuable credit score due to credit card misuse. If you charge more than you are able to pay back you could end up in deep trouble. The consequences could be very devastating. If you are unable to pay your credit card bill, your credit will become bad, which in turn can cause major problems in the future. It will make it difficult to buy a house, lease a new car and even find a great paying job. Even employers check your credit score when you apply for a new job.

It is also a good idea to fully review any offers you are given. If you receive a credit card offer and think it sounds good, there is a chance that it really isn’t. Make sure to read the fine print and terms of service for any given credit card offer. Many offers can be misleading and could even charge hidden fees that many consumers are generally unaware of. If you keep all this information in mind when you are applying for a credit card for the first time, you should not run into any problems.

As long as credit cards are used responsibly, they can do more good than they do bad. However, the same can be said in reverse. Make sure that you are fully aware of the responsibility that is required and you should do just fine.

The first thing to consider is if you can easily make the monthly payments. While it may seem simple only to buy needed items and have a card just in case of an emergency, it rarely works that way. Often times a nice pair of shoes gets swiped on the card, and soon all those little purchases add up to a big monthly statement. While most cards have a low minimum monthly payment, it’s not simply for customer convenience. The remaining balance is charged interest, and the more that’s on the card, the more money the credit card company will make. The forty dollar shoes may end up costing over sixty dollars if you can’t afford to make larger payments, so always make sure you have enough available income to pay more than just a minimum balance.

Another thing to consider is if the convenience and rewards for using a card outweighs the interest rates. If you can afford to pay off most or all of the balance every month, it may be a wise choice to apply for a credit card. Many cards, such as a First Savings credit card, offer cash back, travel points, or a variety of other incentives and goodies. Also look at the interest rates and make sure that you’re not “paying” for those rewards in all the interest you pay to the credit card company. While a set of plane tickets to Florida may be a nice perk, if you’ve paid over 800 in interest to get them, it may not be worth it.

A final thing to consider before applying for a credit card is if you really need it or not. Some people prefer to have just one or two cards, while others have wallets overflowing with specialty credit cards for stores. Look at what cards you already have and whether or not you need another one, or are ready to apply for your first one. It’s very easy to run a large amount of debt when you have more than one card, as most people don’t keep track of every purchase on every card in one central location.

Overall, first time credit cards can be a great addition to any wallet when used carefully and responsibly, one just has to consider if they are ready for that task or not.