by John A. Addison (NAPSA)—If yow’re not careful, it can be easy to let credit card spending becomethe force that drives your finances—particularly during the holidays. Fortunately, there are a few practical steps you can take to get back in control. Here are some tips from the financial experts at Primerica on when to put your credit cards away: After midnight. Your judgment may be off at this time of day, so it’s best to turn off the computer, put your card away and wait until morning. When you’re near your credit limit. Credit counselors advise staying away from even a couple of hundred dollars of your credit limit to avoid any negative impact on yourcredit score. When youget a notice that your rate will go up. You may be able to negotiate with your credit card companyfor the old rate, switch to a new company with a lower rate or avoid using credit altogether. You’re paying one card with another, habitually. If you’re bouncing your balance around from one card to the next, you should be aware that movingit around every six months or so may show up on your credit John A. Addison report. Also note that transfer fees have gone upto about 4 percent of your debt. If you don’t have a plan for payingit off. If you’re still charg- ing more than you can payoff each month—which is another way of saying too much revolving debt—and don’t have a plan for payingit off, it may be time to get some help. For example, Primerica DebtWatchers” program can help you create a realistic plan to pay off your debt and help yousticktoit. To learn more, www.primerica.com. visit Mr. Addison is Primerica’s CoChief Executive Officer and Chairman of Primerica Distribution.
