Ready to demystify your credit card statement? You may cringe at the thought of opening it each month, but understanding all the numbers and the fine print is important - on both the front and the back.

If a thief uses your lost or stolen credit card, you are responsible for a maximum amount of $50 of unauthorized charges. If you contact the card issuer about the lost or stolen card before it is used by a thief, you do not have to pay any of the unauthorized charges.

The number one rule when disputing unauthorized or inaccurate charges is to do it in writing and do it within 60 days of when you received the statement with the questionable charge. An unauthorized charge is one that is made on your credit account without your consent, actual or implied.

The Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act, designed to protect you, requires creditors to provide you with certain data on a regular basis. You should understand why information is provided to you and how valuable it is when you can make decisions about using credit.

Credit cards are useful tools. They allow you to buy items at times when you don't have cash readily available. They can make traveling easier and provide many other conveniences; however, they're tools that come with responsibilities. Specific responsibilities are generally listed on your cardholder agreement. The cardholder agreement is the document with the fine print that comes with the initial card or arrives with each yearly update.

If you discover a billing error from one of your creditors, you can do something about it. The provisions of the Fair Credit Billing Act can help you settle any errors and disputes you may have with your creditors. Keep in mind it only applies to revolving credit accounts such as credit cards, department store cards, and overdraft protection for your checking account.

A smart alternative to credit cards is a prepaid debit card with the VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover logo. There are two types: Stored value debit cards that can be reloaded, and giftcards, which expire when the initial purchase value has been spent.

Are you only paying the minimum payment each month? If you increased your payment amount every month by as little as $10, you could pay down your debt much faster

The big difference between a secured credit card and an unsecured credit card is that a savings deposit serves as collateral for a secured credit card. To get a secured card, you deposit money into a savings account. Depending upon the issuer's policy, you may not be able to withdraw this money until the account is closed.

Shopping for a credit card can seem like looking for a needle in a haystack, but following some simple steps can get you to your goal.