new to credit cards please help

pabotto

hi all,
im 22 and married with a mortgage and not in debt (apart from the mortgage but that doesnt count), i have always had a maestro/switch card.
but now want to get some sort of credit card, visa/mastercard, i dont care really, just to use occasionally and pay off straight away to up my credit rating, i dont need to borrow money i just want to use it occasionally, but to be brutally honest, haven't got a clue how they work.
when i buy something do i wait for a statement at the end of the month to come through then pay it off or can i get it automatically paid off? I literally have no idea how they work, but i dont want to end up screwed over by these companies, especially as like i said i don;t want to borrow money. please help.

jimbo26

When the statement comes through pay the entire balance and you won't incur any interest charges. Set up a Direct Debit to pay the balance in full. Do not use the card to withdraw cash.

Clariman

You might find this New to Credit Cards Guide useful as well as this Top 10 Tips on Card Usage. Also see Martin's Credit Card Newbie guide in the Resources Bar above.

Clariman
(Disclosure: I am the author of the two guides linked to above and they reside on a website which I run. Martin Lewis/MSE sponsors a website which I run but not that one)