Avoid these 5 costly credit card mistakes in 2025. Learn how to use your credit wisely and protect your financial future. Credit cards can be powerful tools for building credit, earning rewards, and managing expenses—but only if you use them correctly. In 2025, more people than ever are falling into avoidable traps that lead to debt, low credit scores, and unnecessary fees . Whether you’re new to credit cards or have been using them for years, these five mistakes could be draining your wallet without you even realizing it. 1. Making Only the Minimum Payment Paying the minimum might keep your account in good standing, but it won’t protect you from interest. In fact, interest charges can snowball , costing you hundreds or even thousands over time. Pro Tip: Always pay off your full balance each month. If that’s not possible, pay more than the minimum to reduce interest. 2. Maxing Out Your Credit Limit Using your entire credit limit can hurt your credit utilization ratio , which is one...