Americans might be more responsible now than they were in the early 2000s when it comes to the use of credit. At least, that's what the evidence from a Gallup poll taken earlier this year seems to suggest.

The Gallup poll, which was based on random telephone interviews with 1,026 adults, shows that a full 48 percent claim to pay their credit card balances in full when the bill comes due. Not surprisingly, the opposite group, those who carried a balance each month, came in at a record low percentage since Gallup began recording this metric in 2001.

But the poll went further to reveal more about the secret lives of credit card users in the United States, and how the use of credit affected overall debt levels. For example, it showed that the average American carries 2.6 credit cards on average, but the figure jumps to 3.7 when you remove those who don't carry a credit card at all from the equation. Furthermore, the average American carried $2,426 in credit card debt when this poll was taken. However, exclude those without a credit card and the figure quickly jumps to $3,573. So, what does this mean?

What do you spend most of your money on? For most people, their two biggest expenses are their home and car(s). If you remember the post comparing expenses in 1913 to 2012, you might recall the three things that Mr. Average spent most of his "raise" on were:

• Housing (36 percent of the raise)
• Income taxes (28 percent), and
• Transportation (24 percent)

A majority of the increase in transportation has, arguably, to do with that wonderful instrument of freedom -- the automobile.

The choices we make

Our spectrum of choice in cars is, of course, wider than a mile. Egotistas spend big on the latest model of the coolest car. Hollywood celebrities once flaunted their beblinged Cadillac Escalades at the annual Oscar ceremony. That was before the 2002 recession. When that hit, it suddenly wasn't cool any more to be seen piloting a behemoth slurping down rivers of Mother Earth's precious resources. That's when the curtain went up on the eco-friendly Toyota Prius, which Cameron Diaz and other stars rode to the 2003 big event in their sipply little Priuses. Overnight, saving the planet with the Prius became California Cool.<

A few days before Christmas, I was having lunch out when I opened an email that appeared to come from American Express:

"Please click this link to authorize a recent charge on your account."

"Well, that's weird," I thought. I hadn't used my American Express card in several months.

I recently came across an interesting statistic. According to a poll from Harris Interactive, 41 percent of people rarely or never redeem their credit card rewards. It almost hurts to know all of those rewards are going to waste. A more recent study found that 73 percent of Americans are enrolled in rewards programs but have no idea how many points they have.

That used to be me. I discovered the magic of rewards points sometime right after college, when I finally started to take an interest in my financial situation. I wondered what the large number looming above my account number was, and, next thing I knew, years of unknowingly accumulating rewards points turned into a $100 statement credit.

Since then, I've been taking full advantage. I use my credit card like a debit card, budgeting and paying off everything I spend. My card doesn't carry a fee, and I don't rack up consumer debt -- I just earn points. And as modest an amount as it may be, I always get a little excited when I periodically redeem my rewards.

This is the second post from Hilary Stockton, who is the founder of TravelSort, which helps savvy travelers earn millions of miles without flying, redeem them for first-class flights, and stay in luxury hotels at wholesale prices. Follow her on Twitter @TravelSort.

I often get asked about the impact on one's credit score of churning or signing up for multiple rewards credit cards, especially by those new to earning a million or more frequent flyer miles and points via credit cards. It's definitely important to protect your credit score, and no one should sign up for a slew of new credit cards without taking the time to understand how your credit score works and whether you should be applying for new credit cards at all.

1. Only sign up for new credit cards if:

Note: We're not encouraging people to go out and sign up for credit cards, especially if you have debt or plan to carry a balance on a card. (The interest you pay will wipe out any rewards benefits.) But if you can control your spending and pay your bill on time and in full every month, Holly's money hack may work for you. Also keep in mind that your credit score takes a hit each time you open a card, and whatever balance you have on your credit card as of the statement closing date will be reported to the credit bureaus. If you pay the balance in full before the statement closing date, your balance will be reported as $0.

Almost two years ago, we began our journey out of debt. Like the average American family, we had car loans, student loans, and consumer debt. At one point, we were making minimum payments on several credit cards and a loan I took out to buy a Kirby vacuum. I'm serious.

However, getting pregnant with our second child made us realize that we needed to get our finances together quickly. Once we committed to new financial goals, we cut out nearly everything from our life that was "enjoyable." We said goodbye to cable TV and dinners at restaurants. We quit shopping for fun and only went to the store to get groceries and absolute necessities. Our new budget was cut down to the bare bones...so much so that I hesitated to buy almost anything.

Cash flow helps companies thrive. That's why so many small business owners have turned to specialized credit cards to help even out their accounts payable. Some small business credit cards offer 30-day or 60-day terms with zero interest charges, while more traditional company accounts enable owners to spread out payments on major purchases.

However, small business credit cards don't always carry the same protections as consumer accounts. Some lenders even require owners and directors to personally guarantee new accounts. Our interactive credit card comparison tool can help you find the right small business credit card, based on your company's history and risk level.

Find the Best Small Business Credit Card for You

Charge cards and "terms account" credit cards

Even large banks have embraced the idea that small businesses can drive economic growth both in big cities and small towns. Instead of enabling small business owners to dive too deeply into debt, many lenders now provide "terms" accounts that can consolidate record keeping while smoothing out cash flow.

America's youngest credit card brand shook up the industry by launching the first nationwide credit card with a cash back rewards program and no annual fee. Since its splashy debut via a 1986 Super Bowl ad, Discover has grown into one of the industry's most respected companies. With competitive balance transfer offers and a proven track record for delivering solid customer service, Discover has settled into an enviable role in the credit card landscape.

Discover it^®-New! Double Cash Back your first year

Credit Needed: Excellent<

For years, credit card companies battled for your business by letting you surf your balance at a low introductory rate. While some cards carry fees, other balance transfer deals can qualify you for extra perks and rewards.

Looking at the real cost of say, a zero percent balance transfer can save you hundreds of dollars, especially if you think you'll need longer than the introductory offer period to pay off your new account. Our credit card tables include some of the industry's most attractive balance transfer offers.

Find the Best Balance Transfer Offer Available

Barclaycard CashForward™ World Mastercard®

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The following article is written by Craig Ford. Craig blogs at Help Me Travel Cheap where he helps newbies turn credit card sign-up bonuses into free travel.

To entice you to sign up for a credit card most credit card companies offer a sign-up bonus.

The sign-up bonus is the life blood for a growing population of American travelers. They scour the web looking for the best credit cards with sign up bonuses. They get the cards, get the bonuses, and turn a single credit card application into a vacation that most of us only dream of taking.