It might be hard to think back on that very first credit card you got. For many, that was where our credit histories began – but what, exactly, does the perfect credit card look like?

Whether you are a novice or long-time credit-card user, it helps to understand the fine print and shop with some regulations.

First of all, resist the urge to get a credit card with your favorite retailer – whether that is REI or Victoria’s Secret or wherever.

By offering in-store discounts from your credit purchases, these cards just encourage you to keep charging, and instead of getting that money back, you just get store credit. It is a cycle of credit usage that really gets you nowhere.

That’s why Bob Mullins, a volunteer educator with Consumer Credit Counseling Services, loves his Discover Card. It gives him actual cash back on a percentage of his purchases – not just store credit. However, Mullins isn’t one to ever carry a balance, which separates him from most of the credit-using population.

For some help comparing different credit card offers, visit www.bankrate.com and www.credit.com. These are great financial sites that can help you understand financial jargon.

For credit card first-timers, a charge card is an alternative to establishing credit. Charge cards are like credit cards that you must pay in full, every month. No minimum payments, no interest rates. Using your card, but being sure to pay it off every month, is a great way to build credit, whether with charge cards or regular credit cards.

When Mullins advises people on choosing a credit card, he tells them to look at six things:

1. Does the card have an annual fee? If so, dump it. You’re already paying interest on your purchases, so it would be ridiculous to pay the credit company more simply for using their card. Plenty of other cards have no annual fees.

2. Annual percentage rate for purchases (APR). This will determine how much interest you pay. Look for one with no more than 18 percent.

3. Other APRs (for balance transfers, cash advances and default APRs). These fees can hit you by surprise, so it helps to understand when they apply.

4. Grace period for purchases. This is the length of time between when your billing cycle closes and your bill is due. This is the day you must pay your bill in full, if you do that each month.

5. Method for calculating finance charges. This is when you are charged interest on your account. Remember: if you don’t pay the account in full, or you take cash advances, you will owe interest on your account from the date of purchase or the date you took the cash advance.

6. Additional transaction fees (for balance transfers, cash advances, exceeding the credit limit and late payments).

You’ll notice that Mullins doesn’t mention credit limits. That’s because consumers usually build their credit limits over time, and they shouldn’t be hitting that limit anyway.

In fact, if you use a credit card, you have some rules to follow, he says.

“You never use a credit card to purchase anything that you haven’t budgeted for,” Mullins says. “And you must pay your credit card balance in full, and on time, every month.”

Easier said than done, which is why finding a card with the lowest rates and most friendly grace periods is so important.