Life after high school: Where will you be a few years after graduation? Here's a sneak peek at the lives of three people making it in the "real world." - Special Feature: Flash Forward

Career World, April, 2002 by Melissa M. Ezarik

* Credit cards are like loans--you have to pay back what you owe.

* Keep track of how much you spend. Remember that incidental and impulse purchases add up fast.

* Save your receipts and compare them with your monthly bill. Report any problems to your credit card company immediately.

* Never lend your card to anyone.

* Owing more than you can repay can damage your credit rating. This can make it hard to finance a car, rent an apartment, get insurance, or even get a job.

* Pay your bill on time--and in full. If you don't, you'll have to pay finance charges on the unpaid balance. It takes forever to get caught up if you just pay the minimum. And you will end up paying considerably more than the purchase price of the item you bought.

If you follow these rules, you will avoid becoming a victim of credit card debt.