You can pay back the cash advance you take against your credit limit over time, just as you would any other purchase you make with your credit card.  Any cash advance you take will be added to your existing balance.  However, this is a very expensive way to borrow money, unless you plan to pay it back immediately.
This is because there is almost always a high fee associated with cash advances on credit cards, and your credit card company will begin assessing interest on the cash advance immediately, usually at a rate above 20 percent.  Unless you are sure you can afford the finance charges that are associated with cash advances, you should probably try to find another way to come up with the cash you need.

No.  Making your credit card payments by the due date is what will affect your credit score.  There are no benefits associated with making early payments.  However, making your payment well before the due date on your credit card statement is a great habit to practice.  Waiting until the last minute to make your payment can sometimes cause it to be marked as late.  This can be attributed to the time it takes to process your payment as well as other factors.
The three things that most impact your credit score and that are most important to keep in mind are timeliness of your payments, the length of your relationships with your lenders and the percentage of the credit that’s been extended to you that you are using at any given time.

Cash back credit cards will always earn you the most as far as rewards are concerned, relative to what you spend.  The standard rate for cash back reward programs is one percent, so $1 for every $100 spent.  Unlike point or mileage-based reward programs, with cash back rewards what you’ve earned is yours to keep, and your rewards can’t be devalued in any way.  Another benefit of a cash back rewards program is that if you become unhappy with your credit card issuer and want to switch to a better credit card you do not have to worry about loosing your cash back.  You can simply request a check for your earned cash back rewards and then close your account at no risk.

It’s very hard to get the interest rate on a credit card account lowered in this economy, even if you have excellent credit and a superior track record with your credit card issuer.  Now that you’ve made two late payments you’ve weakened your negotiating power considerably.  Your APR was also raised because – simply put – it’s a sign of the times.  Banks are doing all that they can to increase profits before the Credit CARD Act, which restricts their ability to raise rates, takes effect in February.  We would suggest a balance transfer, but any credit card application you fill out now will likely be declined, given that you’ve made two late payments so recently.  The best you can do at this point is to prove your case with good behavior.  Make sure you pay your bill on time every month and pay more than the minimum amount due.  Do this for several months and then try calling your credit card issuer to negotiate your rate down.  You may see some relief.  If not you can try transferring your balance at this time.

Most credit card issuers state that notice will be given as to whether or not a credit card application has been approved within 10-14 days, sometimes sooner.  This usually only includes business days and not the weekends or holiday.  During this time the issuer is reviewing your credit history and matching that up with a credit limit and interest rate offer.  If you haven’t heard back in 14 days, you can always call to follow-up.  There are some credit cards that will give you an instant decision online, but most do not.

This depends. The only way to loose rewards is by defaulting on a credit card or closing your account before you use your earned rewards.  Rewards credit cards are almost always associated with usage on the account.  For instance some reward programs offer one point or one mile for every dollar spent.  If you transfer your balance to another card and have already accumulated rewards on or continue to use your original credit card account, then yes, you will still enjoy the benefits of its reward program.  If don’t plan on using your old card any longer, then you will not get any new reward benefits, so make sure your new account offers a rewards program that you are happy with.

On May 22nd, President Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 into law.  The CARD Act will change the way credit card companies do business, and it will also prohibit consumers who are under 21 years of age from getting credit cards without proof of their ability to repay their debt, or a co-signer in the form of a parent or legal guardian.  This latter point makes it foreseeable that secured credit cards will become the preferred cards for college students, the majority of whom are under 21.
With a secured credit card, undergraduates can open their accounts by putting down a security deposit, which is equal to their credit limit.  For example, if a student wanted a credit limit of $500, they would put up a $500 security deposit to cover their debt in case they became unable to pay their bill.  The presence of a deposit fulfills the letter of the new law by providing ample proof that the consumer in question will be able to repay their debt.  Thus college students will be able to receive secure credit cards without need of a parent or guardian as a cosigner.  If the consumer defaults, the credit card company simply takes the security deposit. Other than this security deposit, a secured credit card acts just like a regular credit card.
Despite the new law, secured credit cards are optimal for college students who are just starting out their credit histories.  When you establish credit there are two main factors that will shape your credit report:  the timeliness of your payments and your discipline in terms of not overspending.  Both of these things can be hard to learn for those new to credit.  College students can practice sound financial habits with a secured credit card at very low risk to both themselves and their credit card company.  Once they have managed paying on time a secured credit card for a couple of years, then they can switch to an unsecured line of credit and challenge themselves to not spend more than they should.

No, not at all.  Debit cards, sometimes referred to as bank cards, are as widely accepted as credit cards, and transactionally, they work the same way.  However, a debit card is linked to your personal bank account, and as soon as you make a purchase with a debit card the money is immediately withdrawn from the account associated with it.  Because of this, there is no bill at the end of the month for the purchases made with a debit card – just an itemized statement.  Debit cards were created for convenience, but they have no more an effect on your credit than would writing a check.

Alternatively, when you make a purchase with a credit card, you are simply lowering your amount of available credit, and you will receive a bill at the end of the month for which you are responsible.

No.  An expired credit card is just like an expired library card.  You simply get a new one at the time of expiration.  Your credit card issuer should send you a new card in the mail automatically.  If you aren’t sure that this will happen call to find out at least a few weeks before the expiration date on your card.  Once you get your new card, your credit line, balance and interest rate should all be the same, unless you’ve been notified separately of changes in those areas.

No need to wait.  If you want a 100 percent guarantee that you will be approved, apply for a secured credit card.  A secured credit card will help you build credit history with low risk to you and the lender.  Secured credit cards work just like regular credit cards and are also reported to the three major credit bureaus.   The only difference between a secured card and a regular credit card is that a secured card requires a security deposit and your credit limit matches the amount of the deposit you put down – the minimum is $200.  Your credit limit can be as little or as much as you choose – you can up your limit simply by adding more to the initial amount you deposit.  The great thing about a secured credit card is that it can act as a personal savings account while building your credit history at the same time.