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According to research commissioned by credit card issuer Capital One Bank, UK consumers are planning on spending an average of £290 on their credit cards this Christmas. For people who run a revolving balance on their credit card, Christmas will see them adding yet more debt to their probably already over-bloated balances. With many credit cards still charging typical annual percentage rates (APR) of up around the 18% mark, consumers will be hit by a larger than normal interest bill in January. It's a nasty surprise you could do without. Free Money The good news is that many credit card companies, including Capital One, are offering free money in the run up to Christmas. Consumers, especially those who don't pay off their cards every month, should take advantage of their generosity. Here's how! Switch your credit card balance to a provider offering 0% interest for balance transfers for the first 6 months, and Bob's your uncle. Many providers also offer 0% interest on all new purchases. Roll on the free money. It's a no brainer decision. But... The Motley Fool encourages people to take control of their money and make better financial decisions. Step one of talking control of your money should involve getting out of debt, and that means paying off your credit card balances. As the average consumer looks set to spend an additional £290 on their credit cards this Christmas, for many people this will simply add to their existing debt problems. The average British cardholder now carries about £1,400 in debt on their plastic. So, whilst 0% interest for the next 6 months is certainly attractive, consumers still need to manage their debt responsibly, because it still needs to be paid back. Having said that, you could do no worse than to take advantage of the 6 month interest free offers on the market. You won't pay any interest, and it will give you the time to tackle paying off any balance. Win £1000 If you need a helping hand in paying off your credit card balance, the Motley Fool is giving away £1,000 in cold hard cash. Enter our competition and have the chance to win. Even if you don't win the Fool's £1,000, you can still be a winner this Christmas by switching to a 0% interest credit card. There are more details, including special credit card offers for Motley Fool readers, in our credit card competition.