Before paying for an item with credit, ask yourself honestly: Can this purchase wait until I save up to pay the entire price? Is it worth it to me to pay more, rather than saving up? Do I have more pressing bills?

You might also consider self-imposing a limit on the number of cards you carry. Too many cards with generous credit limits can be a red flag to creditors. Besides, the fewer number of cards you have, the easier it is to keep track of your debts.

If you think of credit as a short-term loan to be paid off within a few months, you'll start making better use of your cards right away. Furthermore, if you can only afford to pay the monthly minimum for a prolonged length of time, you might want to consider putting yourself on a strict budget until the balance reaches zero.