5 tips for paying off a credit card.

A credit card is a necessary financial tool for modern life. It's also a fast way to get yourself into financial trouble. To avoid that, you need to plan for how you pay your monthly credit card bill. But first, a couple of bonus tips for keeping out of trouble in the first place.

And now let's get back on track. When you get your monthly card statement you will see two dollar amounts: The New Balance, and the Minimum Payment Due. You can pay either amount, or any amount in between. Let's look at some options, listed from best to worst.