 TITLE: Why Is My Credit Card Being Declined? CONTENT: 1\\. You've Reached Your Credit Limit\n------------------------------------\nIf you've made several purchases on your credit card recently, you might have inadvertently maxed out your card. Some credit card companies give you a little leeway and will approve an over-the-limit charge so you're not declined in the store. However, they may charge a fee for the overage.\nThe risk of exceeding your credit limit is higher if you have a low credit card limit—say, a few hundred dollars. If that's the case, you may want to use the card for smaller purchases, such as your morning Starbucks fix or a streaming service subscription. That way, it'll be easier for you to pay off the balance each month and avoid hitting your credit limit.\nThere's another important reason to avoid maxing out your credit card: It'll help your credit scores. Credit utilization—how much of your available credit you're using—plays a significant role in your credit scores. Keeping your individual credit card balances, and your total credit card usage, under 30% of your available limit will keep your utilization low, which can help your credit. Once your balances push your utilization over 30%, your credit scores can suffer. END