This booklet is designed to help consumers understand and manage credit. It is suitable for personal use by adults or for classroom use in junior high through adult consumer education classes. The booklet is organized in two parts. The first part explains consumer credit: what it is, pros and cons, cost of credit, establishing credit, types of consumer credit, sources of cash credit, comparing credit charges, consumer credit agreements, and credit rights and responsibilities. The second part provides guidelines for managing credit dollars: affording credit, using credit versus saving to pay cash, shopping for credit, handling financial difficulties, and managing credit in the future. The guide also includes a list of organizations, books, and pamphlets; a summary of United States credit legislation; and a glossary of the language of credit. (KC)