A few years ago, when a purchase pushed you over your credit-card limit, the card issuer would simply decline the charge and you'd be left feeling slightly embarrassed. Today many card issuers let you hold on to your pride--but at a cost: They readily accept the charge and then hit you with a hefty over-the-limit penalty of $25 to $35 each month your balance remains above your credit line. Pay the bill late, and they tack on an additional $25 to $35 fee. And if your payment doesn't put you back within your limit right away, then penalty fees will inflate both your balance and the finance charges, thus increasing the minimum payment due. The card issuer may also raise your interest rate. These tips will help you avoid forking over a small fortune in over-the-limit fees:

* Keep a running tab. Know your credit line and deduct each purchase from it. And if you don't have a reserve card solely for emergencies, leave enough available credit for unforeseen expenses.

* Call ahead. If a large purchase will put you over your limit, call your card issuer in advance and request a credit-line increase.

* Ask for E-mail reminders. Some card issuers will remind you that you're near your credit limit.

* Shop for a card with lower penalty fees. Credit unions and local banks tend to have lower fees and may not hit you with a penalty until you exceed your credit line by a certain amount.

For more information, log on to bestcreditoffers.com or bankrate.com.

Women--who own 26 percent of the country's 20.8 million nonfarm businesses--can now visit a new Web site set up by the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration. The site, women-21.gov, helps women find capital and get up-to-date information on government procurement, retirement security, technology and the tax code.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Essence Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group