If you are paying a fee, call your company and announce you would like the card for free. Co-branded cards, which charge an annual fee, are relatively new in the credit industry and may be a sensible consideration, provided there are no high annual fees or high interest. Look for credit with a low interest rate. Ask your current company for a lower interest rate or shop around for a lower rate. Do not borrow on your credit card.
Credit provides false security.
Plastic in your hand gives you a false feeling of power and control. The narrow neck of the jar, along with the fact that you can't microwave it because of the metal strip on the back of your card, gives you a cooling off period. She hosts a weekly radio program in St. Louis, and is the author of 1001 Bright Ideas to Stretch Your Dollars and The Complete Guide to Creative Gift-Giving . All rights reserved.