Personal credit card debt is money that is owed to one or more credit card companies. It is generally unsecured debt, meaning the money was loaned without securing its payback with colateral such as a house or vehicle that could be repossessed. Personal credit card debt is, by definition, not associated with a business, and is held by one or two people.

There are numerous credit card companies that offer credit to consumers, at varying interest rates, and with various benefits. Someone with a good credit history will, in most cases, be able to get a credit card with a lower interest rate than someone who has negative items on their credit report. One may also get a lower monthly payment amount than someone with a poor credit history; this is calculated by taking a percentage of the total balance owed. It is helpful to research different credit cards to determine interest rate, yearly fees, and any cash-back or other bonuses available before applying.

Stores also offer credit cards to shoppers, usually enticing them with a discount and a low interest rate up front that may increase drastically after a few billing cycles. Store cards can be a dangerous way to rack up more personal credit card debt, but can be a good way to get discounts and build credit history if used responsibly. Generally, it is best to have only a few credit cards at any one time. These might include one or two cards from major credit card companies, and one or two from stores at which you frequently shop.

If possible, it is best to pay off your credit cards every month, and if that is not possible, pay off the ones with the highest interest rate first. Personal credit card debt should not be carried from month to month, because then you will pay interest on the money. Of course, it is not always possible to pay your credit card off completely every month. If nothing else, strive to make the minimum payment; this helps to ensure a good credit rating. Never miss a credit card payment if you can help it; even one missed payment can make one's interest rate skyrocket.

Demonstrating responsibility to lenders with credit cards, and not running up large amounts of personal credit card debt, is a great first step to improving one's credit rating. Over time, this will improve one's chances of getting a car loan, an apartment, or a mortgage. Conversely, failing to make timely payments, will reduce one's credit score. In such a situation, it is a good idea to contact the credit card company directly, as they may be willing to negotiate a more reasonable payment plan.