[Mr 5 0]

Mustanguy:

Credit cards can be a handy buying tool but they can also be dangerous to your financial solvency if not used very carefully.

It's too easy to order parts, buy things in stores or charge meals and gas to a credit card and partly think it's 'free money' while saying that you'll pay it all back. Right.

Then the bill comes in, it's three times what you can pay off now so you start making the 'Minimum Payment' (usually about $20. for every thousand you owe) and of course the interest is obscene - Mafia-style interest of around 20% - so you end up never paying the sucker off and just get into deeper debt. It's not fun anymore at that point.
Been there - done that.

I now use a debit card for all transactions that require a credit card (internet purchase, rental car, etc) and I have an American Express card for emergencies but that card doesn't allow you to make partial payments - the whole amount is due at once, so one does not charge on AMEX without knowing that you can pay the bill in three weeks.

For your situation, you might try a store credit account. They tend to be very liberal because they want you to buy there and having their card makes it easy. Of course you need to be 18 and have some income and a credit rating of some sort, in most cases. Worth a shot.

If that doesn't work, try borrowing from a friend or relative. If you don't want to go that route (or no one you know has any cash to lend) and you're really desperate, there is always the pawn shops. They pay about 10 to 20 cents on the dollar value of the item(s) you have to pawn.
Not a great deal but a last resort - if you have anything of real value to pawn and don't need big bucks. You can pay back the money and redeem the item(s) within six months in most cases. Look under 'Pawn Shops' or 'Money to Lend' in the telephone book.

Good luck.