While you may think you know a lot about how credit works, many people find that they believe things about those handy pieces of plastic that simply are not true. Learning what is true about your credit cards can help you protect your credit rating and your financial future.

Many of us shop online regularly for everything from books and electronics to our groceries and home improvement supplies. Online shopping is quick, easy and convenient and with our busy lifestyles it is no wonder that more and more people do their shopping online each year. While many retailers accept standard credit cards, there are several other online payment alternatives that may be used both by retailers and by individuals selling at online auction sites and elsewhere. How do these online payment services work? Do they really keep your financial information safe?

Credit card companies are not, quite often, the most ethical of corporations. While this may not surprise you, the marketing genius inherent in the credit card industry may. Credit cards are big business, and as such, they work hard to entice you to carry and use their credit cards. Moreover, they would really prefer you carry a balance on that card, so interest charges accrue. What are some of the marketing strategies credit card companies use to entice you? How can you filter through these offers to choose a credit card that is right for you, if you choose to carry one?

While none of us enjoy dealing with customer service phone calls, making time for a trip to the bank, or spending significant amounts of time navigating confusing websites, there are things you can do to make your dealings with your bank easier. Many people find that they have multiple bank accounts of various sorts, including their checking and savings accounts, possible investment accounts, as well as credit card accounts. First, be sure to have all relevant information at hand. If you do not have what you need available, the banker on the other end will likely have difficulty helping you. You will need your name, account number and other pertinent information. If relevant, a current statement or bill can also be a useful thing to speed handling your banking transactions on the phone or in person.

There are many services out there that claim to fix or repair your credit for a low monthly fee or a larger flat fee. Are these services for real, or are they simply scams out to take already vulnerable consumers for even more money? How can you tell the difference between a valuable and reputable service and one that simply is neither?

Have you looked at your credit card statements recently? The recession is changing the policies for many credit card companies and may even have changed the terms of your credit cards, leaving you with higher interest rates and a different penalty and fee structure than you expect. In the light of today's economy, credit card companies are, like other financial institutions, running scared and trying to cut their losses.

Being debt free in today's culture is rare, but offers many advantages. If you are struggling with consumer debt, the thought of carrying no debt at all may seem so unlikely as to be impossible. In reality, you can live without debt. While paying off your debt can seem like a difficult and overwhelming task, many people can be debt free in just a few years, with the right resources and plan. Living without debt will reduce your overall stress, allow you to save and plan for the future, and provide you with personal and financial freedom.

Many Americans, whether they went to college right after high school or went back later, find themselves faced with student loan debt. As far as debt goes, student loan debt is less cumbersome than many types of debts, and lenders are typically willing to work with students to get their debt paid off in a manageable fashion. Typically, before graduation, you will find yourself attending an informative session about your loan debt, and during the six month grace period after graduation, you will typically choose your repayment plan. This may be the easy part.

We have all had times when a bill was due, or an unexpected expense came up. What can you do? In theory, of course, we all know that we should have a bit of savings set aside to cover just these times. If you are one of those people with the short term savings easily accessible to cover that emergency vet bill when the dog got sick or the car repairs when you got a little too close to the garage door, you can stop reading now. If you do not have that short term savings account available, you may have found yourself considering a cash advance to cover your expenses.

While we often think about consumer debt in personal terms, it has implications far beyond just your budget or checking account. Consumer debt impacts the economy on the whole. You may have heard worrisome reports about the mortgage lending crisis, credit card debt, or the falling stock market on the evening news.