How is credit balance determined?

Okay, so how do they figure out that scary credit card balance? It’s basically like this: They take what you already owe (if anything – hopefully nothing!), and then they pile on everything you bought that month. Plus, don’t forget the interest! Ugh, interest. It’s like a sneaky little fee for borrowing money. And then sometimes there are other fees – it’s like, really? More fees? Anyway, you add all that up, and bam! That’s your credit card balance. The total amount you’re staring at, wondering how it got so big. It’s like when I went a little crazy buying plants online last spring. I swore I wouldn’t spend much, but then there were the cute pots, and the special soil… and suddenly my balance was way higher than I expected! It’s a good reminder to keep track of your spending, you know? I mean, who wants to owe a ton of money? Not me!