Are you afraid that using a rewards credit card will result in you going into debt? Here's how to earn rewards the right way.

As a new cardholder, you can snag huge sign-up bonuses, Kelly says — essentially free money available only as a one-time points boost. Given this, it’s generally better to get a new card than it is to upgrade your existing ones, Kelly says. “And as long as you pay on time and keep your balances low, your credit score goes up.”

The top five states for worst credit card debt were as follows: Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas.

Many credit cards charge interest rates of 20% or higher. Check out the best strategies to follow and never pay interest on your credit card.

Given the potentially massive expense associated with college tuition, it’s understandable that students and parents want to squeeze every possible benefit out of their payments. Paying for college tuition with a credit card to earn rewards — or to earn a welcome bonus with a sizable spending requirement — is one such strategy that comes up frequently.

More Americans are falling behind on their credit card bills, and U.S. consumers now owe a record $1.14 trillion in credit card debt, but there are strategies you can use to get out of a hole. The average credit card balance has swelled to $6,