The New York Times puts up a good primer on store credit cards, or co-branded credit cards, as they are also known.

There aren’t any new revelations about the practice (you can read our posts, Should You Get a Co-Branded Credit Card for even more information).

The basics are still the same- in some cases, the discount on a store credit card can give you a genuine benefit. However, if you already have poor or ailing credit, it may make things worse by nudging down your credit score.

If you do get a card, make sure that you pay the balance off on time. Many store credit cards have prohibitively high interest rates, hidden fees, or other charges that can lead to serious expense. It can be tempting to get a new card around the holidays- but make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into.