Home ownership and having available credit cards go hand in hand in today's world. After, when cash is short, those credit cards are necessary for emergencies that creep up in the life of every homeowner. Unless, of course, a homeowner has available cash to cover such emergencies.

Due to these strategies, it is important to keep up with what credit card companies are doing. The cost of the unexpected home repair that is placed on a credit card and added to credit card debt can result in years of payoff. Homeowners need to read the fine print on their credit card contracts to see and understand just what they are agreeing to.

Credit card companies are no longer throwing piles of low interest offers at homeowners. The zero percent introductory offer is becoming a product of past history while at the same time balance transfer fees are rising. Due to the large amount of credit card delinquent debt, banks are calling in credit card balances. Monthly minimum payments are rising while grace periods are shrinking. Credit card fees are increasing while interest rates are rising.

What are homeowners to do? The single most important thing to do is to get rid of any credit card debt you may have. This is easier said than done for many people but there are strategies that you can follow.

-Always pay more than what the minimum payment requirement is.
-Do not add anymore debt to credit cards. Try to always use cash.
-Begin to save any available cash, even coins, for those emergencies. It may take a long time, but eventually it will add up.
-If you have good credit and the interest has been raised, call the company to negotiate a better rate.
-Make sure to always read the fine print on any offers that you receive. New balance transfer offers may carry a 5% transfer fee which may not be in your best interest to take advantage of depending on the amount of debt to be transferred.

By all means available, it is so important at this time to get rid of as much credit card debt as possible. It is up to you to take care of your financial health and eliminate debt, not the banks. They are there to make as much money as they can with whatever means they can use.