Credit card fees include annual fees ($0-$550+), interest charges (16-25% APR), late payment fees (capped at $30 first offense, $41 repeat), balance transfer fees (3-5%), cash advance fees (5% or $10 minimum), and foreign transaction fees (3%).

Interest charges represent the largest expense for most users. $5,000 balance at 20% APR with minimum payments takes 12+ years and $6,000+ interest. Grace period (21-25 days) allows avoiding interest by paying full statement balance. Strategies to minimize fees include always paying full balance, setting up automatic minimum payments, using no-annual-fee cards unless benefits justify cost, and avoiding cash advances entirely.