Credit cards are a very convenient and handy credit tool. However, they should be used judiciously in order to avoid issues later on. Some of the common credit card mistakes are:

1. Paying the Bare Minimum
It is tempting to coast along by paying only the minimum required monthly installment. However, carrying credit card debt is not really good for your credit score. As the months go by the interest adds up and before you realize it, you will have incurred a larger debt than you had planned for. Regardless of the minimum due requested by the credit card company, allocate a little more in your budget to pay every month.

2. Pushing Credit Limit
Try to avoid using the credit card limit to the maximum or worse, exceeding the limit. A credit card that has exceeded or used its limit to the maximum does not look good on a credit report. If your card is charged dangerously high try to avoid using it for some time and pay cash instead.

3. Being Late
Paying the monthly installment due late is one of the common credit card mistakes. If you have difficulty remembering the dates, mark them on the calendar for the entire year. Better yet, enable automatic payments if your bank offers this facility.

4. Cash Advances
The cash advance feature of a credit card should be reserved for the utmost emergencies. Using this feature too often is one of the most common credit card mistakes. The cash advance fees on such transactions are very high. The interest also piles up right from the day you withdraw the cash. It is likely to put a very big dent in your pocket and creditworthiness. Even when you do use this feature for an emergency, do not neglect to pay it back as soon as possible.

5. Check Statements Carefully
A thorough reading of the credit card statement is the best way to spot any inconsistencies immediately and resolve them. It also helps one keep a track of the interest and any other charges that are levied. Your credit card statement also gives you important information about your card dues, limits, charges, bonus features, and important dates. It will also have important contact information that will be useful in case you need to contact the credit card company.

6. Lending Your Card
Helping a friend or relative who is in need of financial assistance is better done using cash. Giving your card to someone is one of the biggest common credit card mistakes. When your card is not in your hands you have no control over what is spent on it but are still liable for the debt.

7. Letting Your Card Slide into a Charge Off
Allowing your credit card debt to spiral so badly out of control that it becomes a delinquent and charged-off account is terrible for your creditworthiness. This will show up on credit score reports for years to come. Making the effort to keep your card off this status is worth it in the long run.