It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the last thing you want to do is spend recklessly. Most people go into serious debt around this time and ruin their credit scores. Here’s how to maintain good credit during the holiday season. First things first, if you use a store credit card do not overspend. You should also know your interest rates on your credit cards.

Remember that new accounts can drop your credit score for a short while. If you do get credit cards, pay off the highest rates first, that way you don’t pay more interest than you have to.

Also, minimize interest. Do this by paying more than the minimum each month so that your interest rate doesn’t grow.