With the way the economy is going, you really don't want to get yourself into credit card debt. That's why, as much as possible, you should try to make smart choices whenever you use your credit card. If you are thinking that you are better off getting rid of your credit cards, don't. Your credit cards are the primary link to your credit score and, if you surrender your credit cards, you will most definitely lose out on your credit score.
One of the worst ways that you can get into credit card debt is when you fall for their aggressive marketing practices. Credit card companies are always looking to expand their customer base. More customers mean greater profit. Thus, you are always going to find some very attractive offers from credit card companies. Take this with a grain of salt. For instance, some companies offer credit cards with waived annual fees. Make sure that you know how many years that fee is waived. 0% interest rates are another common trap. With a deal like this, they are just waiting for you to miss one monthly payment. Once you do, you'll see your interest rates rocket sky high.
Another thing to remember is to be smart with your monthly payments. Obviously, make every effort to zero out your monthly balance every month. That means charging your purchases smartly, making sure that you will have the money to cover your balance at the end of the month. You don't want to be charged late fees. You should also make a point of reviewing your monthly statement carefully. Banks are notorious for charging you with unearned fees or with ghost purchases. Make sure that you are being billed fairly. If you have any doubt, call the bank immediately. This is also good practice for detecting credit card fraud.
As much as possible, use your credit card for credit purchases. Some credit cards offer a service wherein you can also withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card. Don't use this service. For one thing, the charges are way higher than a normal ATM card. Also, you don't want to get used to this kind of practice. Small withdrawals have a way of ballooning over time so that you will realize only when it is too late that you've accumulated a huge debt.
If you are fond of the convenience of using credit cards, you should look into debit cards. Debit cards can be used just like how you use credit cards. The main difference is that, with a debit card, your purchases are taken against an existing balance, maybe in your bank account. That means that whatever you charged to your debit card, it is already paid the moment the transaction goes through. No need to worry about monthly bills.