CardHub

We've schooled you on what CardRatings.com ranked as the worst credit cards of 2011, so it's only fitting for us to share which pieces of plastic would actually be wise to carry in your wallet this year.

Habits are hard to break: Just when you think you're firmly in control, you backslide again. According to CardHub.com, U.S. consumers accumulated a staggering $18.4 billion in credit card debt in the second quarter -- 66% more than they accumulated in the same quarter a year ago.

It appears that complaints from consumers and regulators about the lack of credit card transparency at banks have not fallen on deaf ears. According to CardHub.com's 2011 Credit Card Application Study, the 10 biggest issuers of plastic have significantly improved transparency this year.

CardHub.com recently put five of the most well-known prepaid card issuers under the microscope to see how useful their products are based on fees and features. Which offers the best deal? The answer might surprise you. But the real question is should you use a prepaid card at all.

Credit card companies are tripping over themselves to attract big spending, timely payers. The credit industry mavens at CardHub.com report that there credit cards than ever offering higher initial rewards bonuses -- for people with credit scores above 700.

The average American family will spend about $825 more for gas in 2011 than it did in 2010. But for every pain there is a pill, and in this case, a partial cure for the fill-'er-up blues may be to sign up for a gas station credit card. Done the right way, it can result in hefty savings. The key: paying off the balance at the end of each month.

Most of us know it's important to be aware of our credit limit on each card we have, but a growing class of cards are now being marketed to Americans as having no preset spending limit. While this sounds great, in theory, new research uncovers some hidden drawbacks that can undermine your efforts...

We've warned you in the past about the frustrations that can come of using a debit card for traveling expenses: A vendor such as a hotel or rental car company can put a hold on a potentially large amount of money, effectively freezing it until as long as a few days after you've checked out or...

If you're like the rest of us, you've got a few gift cards laying around, collecting dust and, in some cases, losing money month after month as they continue to go unused. Want a better option? You may be able to get something for those unwanted gift cards if you try to sell them at the new gift...

Even though more people were feeling OK about giving cash as a gift this holiday season (if the envelope contents at my family gatherings are any indication), people still gave out a lot of gift cards this year. If you were lucky enough to have an aunt who knows you love Outback, like me, then you...