Besides lowering your credit score significantly, the following credit card warning signals could mean that you are headed for financial distress.

1. You charge more this month than you did last month, without any major purchases like a new refrigerator.
2. You charge consumables like groceries and gasoline and don't pay off that entire amount each month. You go into the debt tail-spin when you charge items that get used up before you pay for them.
3. You make less money this month and can't make the usual payments with increased living costs.
4. You only make minimum payments. You'll never get out of debt if you can only pay the interest and a few dollars off the principal.
5. You borrow money from one credit card to pay payment on another account.
6. You use five or six credit cards each month. The best way to manage credit card debt is to only use one credit card and keep one with a low balance for emergencies.
7. You go over your limit on your credit cards. Besides paying overlimit fees, you will get penalties like increased interest rate. Plus, your credit score will take a nose-dive when you go over the 70 percent of available credit line.
8. You owe more than 50 percent of your credit line on more than one credit card accounts.
9. You can't make all your credit card payments each month.
10. You lie or cover up your credit card use to your spouse.

If you find that you make at least one of these warning signals, make yourself a financial plan--today.

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