Many of us know the dangers of credit cards. But, unfortunately, most of us find out too late. This is often because credit card debt starts in college, when we are young, idealistic, and ready to find our place in the world, bellowing a forceful “charge” as we do.

Credit cards in college are a part of life, but they are also a risky part. If you are getting ready to start college, or have been a student for a few years, consider avoiding disastrous debt by taking the following actions:

Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need: Credit cards have a unique way of making you feel as if you are spending fake money. It’s almost as if you’re using Monopoly money as you find yourself buying things you don’t need: an inflatable couch, crystal wine glasses, Marvin Gardens.

It’s fine to use credit cards if you do so responsibly. Purchasing things like groceries, textbooks, and repairs for your car is often essential to your success. But, there is a skinny line between what you need and what you want. Stay away from using your credit card to purchase a plasma TV or a Wii system. Only buy what you truly need and can afford: beg your parents to buy you the rest.

Only Use Credit Cards for Emergencies…Seriously: It’s a funny thing: the word “emergency” takes on a new meaning when a credit card is involved. Suddenly, attending a late night movie becomes an emergency, getting your hair highlighted becomes a life or death endeavor, and buying box seat tickets to the season opening football game must be done in order to stop an impending disaster. Credit cards have a way of making everything and anything seem like an emergency.

Instead of allowing your credit card to do this, put your foot down…and close your wallet. Make a promise to yourself that you will only break out the MasterCard in times of true emergency moments. Finding yourself stuck at a desolate gas station in the middle of the night with no money for fuel, a trucker named Slick Willy repeatedly ogling you from behind, can be construed as an emergency. Absolutely having to buy a three hundred dollar sequin dress for the sorority formal cannot.

Understand Interest Rates: We all love the concept of “buy now, pay later;” it speaks to us. But, when it comes to credit cards, it’s important to know that “buy now, pay later” does not translate into “buy now, pay never.” You will pay, and, most often, you will pay more than you ever thought possible.

Credit cards have interest rates, and some of these rates can be as high as 20 or 25 percent.  This is how credit cards make their money. When you purchase a 500 dollar mountain bike with your credit card, for instance, you automatically end up paying more than 500 dollars. Unless you can pay the entire balance by the time your first credit card bill comes, you will start paying interest.

Credit card companies particularly love those who buy large items and then only pay the minimum credit card payment each cycle. It is these people who spend months and months paying 30 dollars towards their mountain bike only to realize, a year later, that they still owe 470 dollars. The reason is simple: when you pay the minimum payment, you are mainly paying just interest. You haven’t even begun to truly pay off your balance.

Don’t Carry Them with You: Having a credit card in itself is not dangerous: using it irresponsibly is. For this reason, if you must have a credit card, refrain from carrying it with you to certain places, particularly restaurants and bars or any other place that involves alcohol.

At some point in history, the inventor of the credit card and the inventor of beer sat down and laughed and laughed: they knew they had created a lethal combination. Because drinking alcohol completely destroys your inhibitions, you may find that you’ll have no problem putting a 200 dollar bottle of wine on your credit card, or buying a round of Crown Royal for the entire tavern.

For this reason, never take your credit card with you to any place where you’ll be drinking. No good can come out of doing so, only debt. Remember: Friends don’t let friends charge drunk.

Don’t Even Get One to Begin With: Yes, we know: getting a credit card is exciting; it’s almost like a rite of passage for the college student. And, to make matters worse, it’s completely simple. Credit card companies routinely invade college student unions, offering kids things like t-shirts and baseball tickets if they take a few minutes and apply.  Well, simply don’t fall for it.

Credit card companies didn’t get to be billion dollar enterprises by not making money. They know what they are doing and they often look at a young college student the same way a great white shark looks at a wounded seal. You are their prey.

Instead of feeding into their hands, avoid getting a card altogether. It might seem hard at the time, but - when your friends suddenly find themselves in 10,000 dollars of debt - you’ll be financially free and glad you told the credit agencies where they could stick their Visa.