3 tips for using credit cards without racking up debt

When used responsibly, these pieces of plastic can have some real benefits

Illustration of couple carrying an enormous, heavy credit card
Americans owed $1.14 trillion in credit card debt as of the second quarter of 2024
(Image credit: Malte Mueller / Getty Images)

Using credit cards may feel like a slippery slope — that little piece of plastic is convenient, but can quickly land you in a tough spot financially. As evidence, look no further than the U.S. total of credit card debt.

"Americans collectively owed $1.14 trillion in credit card debt as of the second quarter of 2024, according to the Federal Reserve," said CBS News, which "is up 5.8% year-over-year and reflects a $27 billion increase from the previous quarter."

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Becca Stanek, The Week US

Becca Stanek has worked as an editor and writer in the personal finance space since 2017. She previously served as a deputy editor and later a managing editor overseeing investing and savings content at LendingTree and as an editor at the financial startup SmartAsset, where she focused on retirement- and financial-adviser-related content. Before that, Becca was a staff writer at The Week, primarily contributing to Speed Reads.