When people develop bad credit, a common reaction is to get off the credit horse entirely and stop using credit. But that's exactly what you don't want to do. To get out of hardship, you have to go through hardship. And to rebuild credit, you have to use it first.

Adding a spouse or other family member as an authorized user on a credit card can often boost that person's credit within a very short period of time. But there are also significant pitfalls to the practice — which is why it pays to know what you're getting into.

If you're one of the millions of Americans struggling with credit card debt, take heart. A slew of online services offer helpful tips and tools to pare down your credit card debt faster. Here are CreditCardGuide.com's picks for four of the most useful financial management Web sites.

It is easier than ever to begin to build a credit history, and you could see results in as little as 6 to 12 months. Here are some of the steps to take to start building your credit report and develop an excellent credit score.

Having a good credit history and score has long been an important factor in being able to obtain loans and credit cards; your credit score even factors in when you apply for a job or a rental place. In more recent times, as the economy is going through a recessionary period, having good credit has become more important than ever.