Designed for first-time borrowers, this pamphlet describes the basics of credit as a part of personal financial planning. Following a self-quiz (with answers) that tests the reader's knowledge of credit, the pamphlet provides guidelines for responsible credit use and outlines steps to take if debt problems occur. Topics covered include the following: credit for the first-time borrower, how much credit can one afford, shopping for a loan, shopping for a credit card, credit bureaus and credit reports, monitoring credit card use, warning signs of debt problems, and do's and don'ts of handling a financial crisis. (KC)