


Your bank account balance might read $1,000, but if your credit cards have balances of $600 on them, it's easy to fool yourself into thinking you have more money than you actually do. But when you add credit cards into the mix - as you should, as soon as you're able to use them responsibly - things get a little more complicated.

Your bank account balance almost immediately reflects your transactions in one place. When all you have is a debit card, checking how much you're spending and how much money you have left is easy. Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
