The Paydown (Where It Went Wrong) Credit cards were never my strong suit. My dad, to his credit, did everything right. He tried to teach me the most basic rule—one I still want to pass along: Credit cards aren’t bad. They’re a tool. Used correctly, they can build your credit, offer travel perks, and protect you from fraud. But all of those benefits disappear the moment you carry a balance and start paying interest. I got my first credit card at 17 through a local bank. My dad