3.4. Using credit when you can't afford it
Having a credit card can make it tempting to buy things when you don’t really have the money for them. This is a real problem.
The classic example is going on a shopping spree, spending a few thousand dollars and then not being able to pay it off in full for that statement period. Another example is relying on credit when you are not earning money, whether it’s because you’re between jobs, travelling or for some other reason.
It’s important to only use your credit card when you know you can afford to pay it back, and to address other financial issues directly instead of using your card to delay dealing with them.