 TITLE: What Happens When You Go Over Your Credit Limit? CONTENT: How to Avoid Charging Past Your Credit Limit\n--------------------------------------------\nIt can be easy to lose track of how much you're spending with your credit card and then find yourself dangerously near the limit. You can avoid this situation with a few strategies:\n*   **Charge and pay.** You will never have to wonder whether or not you're close to the limit if you pay off your charges right away. Download your bank's app to make the transaction immediately. Charge $300 worth of groceries? Send $300 to your credit card issuer before getting in the car and driving away.\n*   **Set a fixed charging amount for the month.** To keep your credit utilization ratio under 30%, figure out how much that will be for your card and stick to it. If your card's credit limit is $1,000, $300 will be your personal limit.\n*   **Review your statements weekly.** You can prevent balances from getting out of hand by pulling up your credit card statement at least weekly. If the amount you owe is creeping up, stop charging.\n*   **Request a credit limit increase.** It's entirely possible that your credit limit is simply too low for your lifestyle needs. If you have been a good cardholder and your credit reports and scores are in great shape (especially if you've never missed a payment), appeal to the issuer for a credit limit increase. It will also analyze your income and credit habits, and as long as you meet the issuer's criteria, it may increase your limit. END