Bank cards can be an early warning sign for dangerous spending in the economy. But, if you used properly and responsibly, a credit card can have its perks. Many enjoy the convenience of a credit line and benefit from their credit company’s reward programs. To find the upside of bank cards, keep reading into this article for ideas you can use.

If you see any suspicious charges to your credit card, call your credit card company right away. By doing this, you will help the card company to catch the person responsible. This also helps absolve you of responsibility when it comes to the charges. A simple phone call is usually all it takes to report fraudulent charges or put a hold on a stolen card.

Take a look at the fine print. We have all been pre-approved for one card or another, but it’s important to understand all of the specifics about that card before accepting it. Details like the rate of interest you will have to pay often go unnoticed, then you will end up paying a very high fee. Furthermore, make sure you are aware of potential fees or billing grace periods.

Try to avoid any credit card fees–late payment fees, annual fees, and exceeded limit fees. Both are costly, but you will pay not only the fees tied to these mistakes, but your credit score will dip as well. Be vigilant and pay attention so you don’t go over the credit limit.

Be sure you check regularly to see if anything in your conditions and terms changes. It is not uncommon for issuers to change terms and conditions with relative frequency. These changes may be buried within hard to understand legal terms. Make sure you’re going over it all so you can see if these changes are going to affect you. These could be more fees and rate adjustments.

Avoid the temptation to lend your bank cards to anyone. Even if the friend is a very good one and they are really in need of the card, it just isn’t a smart idea to lend yours out. Lending out a credit card can have negative results if someone charges over the limit and can hurt your credit score.

When used mindfully and strategically, bank cards can offer serious benefits. Many people appreciate the flexibility and rewards that come with credit cards. You can have these benefits by using what this article has taught you.

There are tremendous opportunities for small businesses and social entrepreneurs to support their communities through community foundations, donor advised funds and other means of giving back. Find the neighborhoods in Staten Island , New York where you can make the most impact on arts in the community.