What is a credit card?

A credit card is a way of borrowing money to pay for goods and services or to pay bills. Once you've reached a pre-approved credit limit, you won't be able to spend any more on the card until you've paid some of it off. At the end of every month, you pay off at least the minimum amount of what you owe on the card - if you don't, you'll begin to rack up hefty charges.

You can apply for a credit card through most banks, some building societies, specialist credit card providers and many high street shops.

Types of credit card

Credit cards come in a variety of different forms - some cards are better for new purchases or for getting cashback on your spending, while others are better for transferring existing debt.