7 credit card habits that make your debt worse, ranked by damage level

kAmrC65:E 42C5 563E 42? 36 6I92FDE:?8] xE 42? 766= =:<6 2 EC625>:==] *@F 2C6 >@G:?8] *@F 2C6 >2<:?8 A2J>6?ED 6G6CJ >@?E9] *@F 2C6 =:<6=J DH62E:?8 @G6C :E] *@F 2C6 24E:G6=J H@C<:?8 2E 86EE:?8 E@ J@FC 8@2=] p?5 J6E E96 D46?6CJ ?6G6C 492?86D 2?5 2D >F49 2D J@F E9:?< J@F D9@F=5 36 >2<:?8 AC@8C6DD[ J@F DE:== 7:?5 J@FCD6=7 :? E96 D2>6 A=246]k^Am

kAm*@F 2C6 C:89E E@ 36 86EE:?8 E:C65 2?5 7CFDEC2E65] %96 ?F>36CD 2C6?’E 255:?8 FA E96 H2J E96J D9@F=5 36 8:G6? J@FC 677@CE] qFE J@F 92G6 D@>6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]244C65:E65563EC6=:67]4@>^3=@8^3F:=5\36EE6C\7:?2?4:2=\923:ED\?@\H:==A@H6C\C6BF:C65^Qm4C65:E 42C5 923:EDk^2m E92E 2C6 E2<:?8 2 3:886C E@== @? J@F E92? J@F C62=:K6] |2?J @7 E96> >2J 36 E9:?8D J@F A6C46:G6 2D H2JD E@ ;FDE 86E 3J H:E9 H92E =:76 4@DED[ @C D@=FE:@?D E@ 86EE:?8 E@ E96 ?6IE A2J4964<] qFE E96 C62= 4@DE >2J 36 2 =@E >@C6 2>A=:7:65 E92? ?@C>2=[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 @7 E96 563E J@F 2C6 2=C625J 42CCJ:?8]k^Am

kAmrC65:E 42C5 :?E6C6DE EJA:42==J 4@>A@F?5D 52:=J[ ?@E >@?E9=J @?46 J@F 2C6 42CCJ:?8 2 32=2?46] $@ ;FDE =:<6 4@>A@F?5:?8 42? 36 >28:42= E@ E96 FAD:56 H96? J@F 2C6 D2G:?8 2?5 :?G6DE:?8[ :E 42? 36 E@I:4 2?5 D@F= 4CFD9:?8 H96? :E :D H@C<:?8 282:?DE J@F] %92E’D H9J E96D6 D66>:?8=J D>2== 923:ED 42? 56C2:= J@FC 36DE 677@CED E@ 4=:>3 @FE @7 563E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]244C65:E65563EC6=:67]4@>^Qmp44C65:E65 s63E #6=:67k^2m C6A@CED]k^Am

k9bm%96 w23:ED w@=5:?8 *@F q24<[ #2?<65k^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m`] %2<:?8 2 42D9 25G2?46]k^DEC@?8m pD >F49 2D “42D9 :D <:?8[” 2 42D9 25G2?46 :D EC@F3=6] xE >2J D66> =6DD 92C>7F= E92? E2<:?8 @? >@C6 4C65:E 42C5 563E[ 3FE :E 42? 255 FA 2 =@E 72DE6C E92? A6@A=6 C62=:K6] u:CDE E96C6 :D @7E6? 2? FA7C@?E 766 E92E 42? 36 2D 9:89 2D dT] }6IE[ J@F H:== =:<6=J 36 A2J:?8 2 9:89 :?E6C6DE C2E6 ;FDE =:<6 2 4C65:E 42C5] qFE E96C6’D >@C6i &?=:<6 4C65:E 42C5D[ :7 J@F 5@?’E 92G6 563E @? E96> H96? J@F >2<6 E96 AFC492D6[ 42D9 25G2?46D DE2CE 492C8:?8 :?E6C6DE C:89E 2H2J] %96C6 :D ?@ 8C246 A6C:@5] x?E6C6DE DE2CED 255:?8 FA :>>65:2E6=J 2D D@@? 2D E96 42D9 :D :? J@FC 244@F?E] %92E :D 6IA6?D:G6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma] !2J:?8 @?=J E96 >:?:>F> @? J@FC 4C65:E 42C5 6G6CJ >@?E9]k^DEC@?8m !2J:?8 @? E:>6[ 6G6? :7 :E :D ;FDE E96 >:?:>F>[ :D 6DD6?E:2= E@ <66A J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6 :?E24E] qFE E@@ >2?J ?6H 4C65:E 42C5 9@=56CD[ :?4=F5:?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6[ 2<2 6>6C8:?8 7:?2?4:2= 8C@H?FAD[ 4@?7:56?E=J D2J E92E :D H92E :D “5F6[” 2?5 A2J @?=J E96 >:?:>F> H:E9@FE <?@H:?8 E96 ECF6 4@DE] #62= 7:?2?4:2= 8C@H?FAD <?@H E92E E96 >:?:>F> H:== 32C6=J 4@G6C E96 :?E6C6DE @? E96 4C65:E 42C5] %96C6 :D ?@ >2E6C:2= AC@8C6DD @? E96 4C65:E 42C5 32=2?46] $@ E96 32=2?46 8C@HD[ 6G6? E9@F89 J@F 2C6 A2J:?8 @? E:>6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mb] !2J:?8 2 9:896C p!# 3642FD6 @7 2 A6?2=EJ @C J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6]k^DEC@?8m #676C 324< E@ Ra] !2J:?8 @? E:>6 :D 6G6CJE9:?8] x7 J@F A2J =2E6[ :E 9FCED J@FC 4C65:E] x7 J@FC 4C65:E 8@6D 5@H?[ J@FC :?E6C6DE C2E6 @7E6? 8@6D FA] %9:D :D H96C6 :E 42? A2J @77 E@ 36 AC@\24E:G6] q6 AC6A2C65 2?5 A@=:E6 2?5 86E :? E@F49 H:E9 J@FC 4C65:E 42C5 :DDF6C] %96 9:896C C2E6 42? 36 25;FDE65 5@H?H2C5[ 3FE J@F >2J 92G6 E@ 2D< 2?5 :E >2J E2<6 E:>6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mc] }@E 9:EE:?8 A2FD6 @? ?6H 492C86D]k^DEC@?8m r@?E:?F:?8 E@ 492C86 ?6H AFC492D6D H9:=6 42CCJ:?8 2 32=2?46 :D 8@:?8 E@ 4@DE J@F 3:8 E:>6] x7 J@F 2C6?’E 42CCJ:?8 2 32=2?46[ H96? J@F 492C86 D@>6E9:?8[ J@F 5@?’E DE2CE A2J:?8 :?E6C6DE F?E:= 27E6C E96 3:== :D 5F6 2?5 ?@E A2:5 :? 7F==] w@H6G6C[ :7 E96C6 :D 2? @?8@:?8 32=2?46[ E96 :?E6C6DE <:4<D :? E96 >:?FE6 E92E 492C86 9:ED] %96 :?E6C6DE DE2CED 244CF:?8 :>>65:2E6=J :?DE625 @7 E96 FDF2= a`\52J :?E6C6DE 7C66 52JD J@F 86E H96? J@F 2C6?’E 42CCJ:?8 2 32=2?46]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8md] &D:?8 @?6 4C65:E 42C5 E@ A2J 2?@E96C[ 2?5 @? C6A62Ek^DEC@?8m] &?=6DD J@F 2C6 5@:?8 2 4=62? 32=2?46 EC2?D76C H:E9 2 _T AC@>@E:@?2= H:?5@H 2?5 2 C62= DECF4EFC65 A2J@77 A=2?[ :E 42? 4@DE J@F >@C6 E92? J@F >2J C62=:K6] %96C6 2C6 2=>@DE 2=H2JD 766D 2EE24965[ 2?5 :E :D?’E 5@:?8 2?JE9:?8 E@ C65F46 E96 32=2?46] xE >2J 766= 2D E9@F89 J@F 4=62C65 E96 564<[ 3FE C62==J J@F 92G6 ;FDE D9:7E65 E96 3FC56?[ 2?5 A2:5 E@ 5@ D@]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8me] {6EE:?8 C6H2C5D 2?5 D:8? FA 3@?FD6D :?7=F6?46 564:D:@?D]k^DEC@?8m r2D9 324< 766=D =:<6 7C66 >@?6J[ 2?5 A@:?ED 42? >2<6 J@F 766= =:<6 J@F 2C6 249:6G:?8 D@>6E9:?8] x? D@>6 D6?D6 J@F 2C6i *@F >2J 36 86EE:?8 36EE6C D62ED @? 2? 2:CA=2?6 @C =@F?86 2446DD H96? J@F EC2G6=] qFE D25=J[ E96D6 C6H2C5D 2C6 72C 7C@> 7C66] !2J:?8 :?E6C6DE 2E EJA:42= 4C65:E 42C5 C2E6D :D 72C >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 E92? 2?J A6C< J@F 2C6 86EE:?8] %9:?< 23@FE E96 >2E9i 42CCJ:?8 2 32=2?46 2E acT D@ J@F 42? 86E 2 86?6C@FD bT 42D9 324< H:== ?6G6C 255 FA]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mf] !2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 HC@?8 ?F>36CD]k^DEC@?8m %96 E@E2= 32=2?46 >2J 766= @G6CH96=>:?8] }2EFC2==J[ :E >2<6D D6?D6 E@ 8C2G:E2E6 E@H2C5 E96 >@C6 >2?28623=6 ?F>36Ci E96 >:?:>F> 32=2?46] (96? J@F 7@4FD @? E96 >:?:>F> 2>@F?E 5F6[ J@F E6?5 E@ =@D6 D:89E @7 E96 >@C6 4C:E:42= ?F>36CDi E96 E@E2= 2>@F?E 5F6[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42A:E2=@?6]4@>^=62C?\8C@H^>@?6J\>2?286>6?E^42=4F=2E6\4C65:E\42C5\:?E6C6DE^Qmp!# 2?5 :?E6C6DE C2E6k^2m[ 2D H6== 2D 9@H >F49 @7 E96 A2J>6?E J@F 2C6 >2<:?8 :D 24EF2==J 8@:?8 E@H2C5D E96 AC:?4:A2= 2?5 7C66:?8 J@F 7C@> E96 563E]k^Am

k9bm%96 (@CDE rC65:E r2C5 w23:E @7 p==i $E2J:?8 $:=6?E p3@FE *@FC s63Ek^9bm

kAmx7 J@F C64@8?:K6 2?J @7 E96D6 923:ED :? J@FCD6=7[ @C :? D@>6@?6 J@F 42C6 23@FE[ J@F 2C6 ?@E 2=@?6] xE 42? 766= =@?6=J[ 3FE :? 724E E96D6 923:ED 2C6 >@C6 4@>>@? E92? H6 C62=:K6] z66A:?8 :E BF:6E 2?5 F?56C E96 C252C :D A6C92AD E96 H@CDE 923:E @7 2==] tG6? :7 J@F 5@ E96 >2E9 2?5 F?56CDE2?5 H92E :D 8@:?8 @? :? E6C>D @7 E96 ?F>36CD[ 4C65:E 42C5 563E :D @7E6? E:65 E@ 3692G:@FC 2?5 923:ED E92E 92G6 366? A2CE @7 @FC =:76 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6[ :?4=F5:?8 <66A:?8 :E D64C6E] xE :D 2 G6CJ ?@C>2= :?DE:?4E 2D H6 ECJ E@ 86E E9C@F89 @FC 52:=J =:G6D E@ D:>A=J C6249 7@C @FC 4C65:E 42C5 E@ A2J 7@C E9:?8D :?DE625 @7 A=2??:?8 29625 2?5 4C62E:?8 ?6H DJDE6>D]k^Am

kAmw:EE:?8 A2FD6 2?5 86EE:?8 DFAA@CE 42? 96=A 4FE E9C@F89 E96 492@D @7 52:=J =:76]k^Am

k9bmup"’D 23@FE rC65:E r2C5 s63E w23:EDk^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m(9J 5:5 >J :?E6C6DE 8@ FA 6G6? E9@F89 x A2:5 @? E:>6nk^DEC@?8m p =2E6 A2J>6?E[ 6G6? 7C@> D6G6C2= >@?E9D 324<[ @C 2? F?C6=2E65 5C@A :? J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6[ 42? EC:886C 2 9:896C p!# 2D 2 A6?2=EJ] %92E 42? DE:4< 2C@F?5 6G6? :7 J@FC A2J>6?E 9:DE@CJ :D 324< @? EC24<] xE :D H@CE9 42==:?8 J@FC 42C5 :DDF6C E@ 2D< 23@FE 86EE:?8 :E 25;FDE65 324< 5@H?] *@F 92G6 ?@E9:?8 E@ =@D6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ms@6D 2 42D9 25G2?46 9FCE >@C6 E92? 3FJ:?8 D@>6E9:?8nk^DEC@?8m *6D] r2D9 25G2?46D @7E6? 4@>6 H:E9 FA7C@?E 766D @7 FA E@ dT] %96J 2=D@ E6?5 E@ 92G6 9:896C :?E6C6DE C2E6D E92? 2 C68F=2C AFC492D6] %96 C62= <:==6C 96C6 :D E92E E96C6 :D ?@ 8C246 A6C:@5 D@ :?E6C6DE DE2CED 255:?8 FA E96 >:?FE6 E96 42D9 9:ED J@FC 244@F?E]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92E’D E96 23D@=FE6 H@CDE 4C65:E 42C5 923:E H96? J@F’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ A2J @77 563Enk^DEC@?8m xE’D ?@E H92E J@F 5@ @C H92E J@F D2J[ :E :D H92E J@F 5@?’E 5@ 2?5 H92E J@F 5@?’E D2J] xE’D DE2J:?8 BF:6E 23@FE :E] tG6CJ 923:E @? E9:D =:DE 86ED H@CD6 E96 =@?86C :E 8@6D F?255C6DD65[ 2?5 D:=6?46 :D H92E =6ED 2 7:I23=6 AC@3=6> BF:6E=J EFC? :?E@ 2? F?>2?28623=6 @?6]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]244C65:E65563EC6=:67]4@>^3=@8^f\4C65:E\42C5\923:ED\E92E\2C6\>2<:?8\J@FC\563E\H@CD6\C2?<65\3J\52>286^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]244C65:E65563EC6=:67]4@>^Qmk6>mp44C65:E65 s63E #6=:67k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am