Got the credit card blues? Don’t worry – you are not alone in this regard. Just today, I found out that I have been declined for a credit card application. While this is irritating and depressing – especially since they would not disclose the reason I was declined – I want to look at the situation in a positive light. Perhaps I should look for a credit card which can save me more money? Here are some tips on how to save money on your credit cards.

Look for cash back cards
There are a lot of credit card companies which offer special credit cards that have a cash back program. The idea is simple – each time you make a purchase using the credit card, you get a certain percentage of the purchase back. Naturally, this will only work if you pay off your credit card bill in full. Right now, I suggest that you try to get Amex Platinum if you can. Their program offers 5 percent back on all your purchases for the first three months. Every month after that, you get 1.5 percent back on all purchases.

Look for new cards every so often
The good thing about credit card companies is that they always have an offer for new customers. What you can do is become a credit card hag – get a new one every so often and close the old one. Doing this will help you get the lowest rates possible.

Look at things from a long term point of view
While you can get low deals for the first several months for most credit cards, it can be a hassle to switch credit cards every year (or even more often). As such, it would be good for you to look for a credit card that will give you relatively low rates in the long run.

Do not take out a cash advance from the credit card
While this might be a very tempting proposition when you run out of cash, it really is not a good idea. For one, charges applied to cash advances are always higher than the normal rates. This also means that the amount that you take out will be deducted from your credit limit. So, unless you have a very good reason to do so, I suggest NOT using your credit card for this purpose.

If all else fails, cut up your cards
This is the only thing I can tell you if you find yourself in a situation wherein your credit card debt is becoming unmanageable. You know very well how easy it is to swipe that plastic. Even the most disciplined of persons can find himself swiping that card despite his original intentions of not using it. If you really want to avoid impulse and unnecessary purchases using your credit cards, then I suggest getting rid of them. Only then can you really make sure that you will not accrue any more debt because of that ubiquitous piece of plastic.