Every day your mailbox is stuffed with credit card offers, and the huge limits and low introductory rates can be appealing. But jumping at the wrong card could turn into a nightmare of nuisance fees and inflating interest rates.

There are different kinds of credit, different sources of credit and different prices for credit. It pays you, literally, to know the difference.

Here we explain the basics of credit cards, from the types of cards to finding the best deals to protecting your rights.

• Credit Card Features
  Make sure you know what fees and rates your card issuer is charging.

• The Best Card for Your Credit Style
  Will you pay off your balance every month? Carry a balance? Answers to these questions will help you zero in on the best card.

• Best Credit Card Deals
  If you aren't satisfied with the terms your card company is offering, you may be able to find a better plan elsewhere.

• Alternatives: Charge and Debit Cards
  Not all plastic cards are created equal.

• How to Protect Your Rights
  When you apply for and use credit, you should expect a fair deal.

Adapted from Kiplinger's Practical Guide to Your Money, by the Editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine (Kaplan Publishing. Copyright 2005 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.) Available wherever books are sold or direct at kiplinger.com/store/books.

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