One of the most fearsome beasts inhabiting the financial world is the credit card bill. This frightening monster can continue to grow, even as the monthly minimum is paid month after month, until it eats up a great deal of the household income. There are steps every consumer can take to get control of the credit card bill monster, but it is important to use proper planning, good budgeting, and some good planning.

Looking at the 0% interest rate

There are always plenty of offers for 0% interest rates on balance transfers, and these 0% offers can be a great way to pay down those high credit card balances and help to get a handle on them. The key to using the 0% balance transfer strategy is to read the fine print carefully and to know when that great introductory rate expires.

The most sure way to keep track of the low 0% offers is to post them on the calendar and take note before they expire. With all the 0% credit card offers on the market, many people have used this strategy to consistently pay down their balance and pay it off over time.

Exceed the minimum

The worst thing you can do when it comes to credit cards is to pay only the minimum balance. Paying only the minimum on a credit card balance is a great way to never get out of debt. It is vital to pay more than the minimum, and to control further spending on the card going forward.

Watch the interest rate

You would probably be surprised at how many people do not know the interest rate they are paying on their credit cards. Knowing the interest rate is absolutely essential to getting a handle on credit card debt, and with the number of credit card offers landing in mailboxes every day, it can be quite a simple matter to find a card with a lower interest rate and transfer the balances to that low interest card.

Often the consumer does not even have to change cards. Credit card companies do not like to lose customers, and one of the little known tricks of the trade is that many banks will lower the interest rate on the card for those who ask, or at least for those who threaten to close their accounts. If you are looking for a lower interest rate on your credit cards, do not be afraid to ask the credit card company. The worst they can do is say no.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and writes on a wide range of topics from home improvement to credit repair and everything in between. She is a regular contributor to http://www.loan-mortgage-auto.com and http://www.home-improvement4u.com For more information and advice on credit issues, check out http://www.credit-card-faq.com