Holiday credit card bills can be hard for college students to pay, especially for those who spent too much.

But while some students struggle to bring their balances down, others say they keep track of their money before they spend it.

“I make sure I have the money first,” said Dan Meehan, a sophomore music performance major. “I wouldn’t use it if I didn’t have the money.”

For those who have gone over their budget, steps can be taken to help deal with overwhelming bills.

Steven Cook, TCF branch manager at the Holmes Student Center, said there are a few approaches to handling credit card bills. He said the best way is to first devise a plan of attack.

“It’s very easy to run up credit card bills, especially during the holidays,” he said. “It really depends on the person and how they keep track of their money.”

Joan London, DeKalb County Credit Union manager, recommended further steps to take.

“I suggest budgeting for the month, or take out a consolidation loan,” she said. “Then cut up all your credit cards, except for one, and use it for emergencies only.”

Cook said an easier way to pay off several credit card bills is by transferring your highest-rate balances over to a card with a much lower rate.

“When you consolidate your credit cards, you make one payment instead of several,” he said.

Marry Rowland at MSNBC.com explained that finance companies will loan you the money to pay off your bills. This makes it easier for the credit card holder because then only one creditor, the finance company, is paid. However, this can raise up some unpleasant issues, Rowland said.

“The problem here is that finance companies charge sky-high interest rates,” she said. “That means the finance company has an incentive to stretch out your payments to increase the interest. Worse yet, many creditors consider finance companies the lender of last resort. So you can actually damage your credit rating by using a finance company even if you’re paying on time.”

As an alternative to overused credit cards, London said a new type of card called Smart Card is making its way into widespread circulation. The cards are offered through Visa and MasterCard.

“These are pre-paid credit cards,” London said. “You can put a certain amount of money on the card, and when that money is gone, the card won’t work anymore. Money is a tangible thing, and these are a great thing for teens and college students.”