A credit card isn’t exactly a major life decision, but it’s a fairly big one. After all, having a credit card means that you can start building your credit score for when you want to take out a home loan, car loan, or personal loan.

While the possibilities of what you can do with a credit card can be exhilarating, a credit card can also serve as a gateway to debt if you aren’t careful.

"Do I need a credit a card?"

Sites like Bankrate and Learnvest, as well as Bruce McClary, media director for ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, consider this the “very first question” that consumers need to ask themselves.

Here are a few others you’ll want to ask yourself.