With government bailouts and the Federal Reserve slashing rates and all the talk about making money more available, one might think personal credit was included. It's not, so we need to watch what we charge.

Beeping and ringing cash registers are for some, the sound of Christmas, but there are fewer purchases being put on credit cards. Still there are those who use credit too freely and find themselves in trouble.

"Credit is a tool and a lot of people change the meaning of what it is," says Lisa Cameron, director of education for Credit Advisors. She sees a lot of people who are in deep financial trouble.

Cameron says they are usually the ones who think of credit as wealth or income, but things are changing. Stores are bringing lay-away programs back and she expects the moves in Washington and Wall Street will eventually lower interest rates on credit cards.

"Like home equity line of credits. People are probably going to start seeing them there, but again, it's not going to be the very next day. These things are happening because most of those things have a quarterly or an annual point where they make adjustments."

It's something savvy consumers should know and something Credit Advisors teaches. There has been a major change in how much people know about credit cards and credit.

"I think the learning curve's getting shorter because I think people are recognizing I've got to know what's going on, even going back and reading the fine print on all those card agreements," says Cameron.

So they can make the right financial choices this holiday season.

Cameron says the first step is to make a list and stick with it. Also, you really want to check the holiday sales. They've come earlier this year with bigger discounts.