It might not seem like applying for a new credit card is very complicated. After all, millions of people have credit cards, and most households have more than one. Still, people do make mistakes when applying for credit cards. Here are three of the most common blunders folks are prone to making when they sign up for that amazing new rewards credit card…

Not checking their credit score first. It’s important to know what your credit rating is before applying for a new credit card, for a number of reasons. First off, some credit cards are geared toward consumers with excellent, average, or poor credit. You’ll want to apply for a card that matches your approximate level of creditworthiness. Being turned down for a card that only approves people with excellent credit can actually hurt your credit score further, which is the last thing you want to do if your credit is already less than perfect. Secondly, your credit score will often determine what APR you’re assigned when you get your new credit card. You might be counting on getting the lowest advertised interest rate, and then sorely disappointed when you end up getting slapped with a much higher rate.

Applying for too much credit in too short a time. It’s a bad idea to just apply for new credit cards willy-nilly, without thinking seriously about whether it’s a good card for you, what you’re going to use it for, and if you really need so much credit. With credit cards, more is not necessarily better. And every time you apply for a new card, an inquiry is made on your credit report, which can eventually lead to a lower credit score. So be judicious about applying for new credit, and don’t go overboard.

Signing up for the first offer that comes their way. There are so many credit cards on the market, it’s a shame to sign up for the first one that hits your mailbox without carefully evaluating the offer. Make sure you’re getting what you really want in a card, whether it’s travel rewards, cash back, purchase protection, a low interest rate, or a 0% APR balance transfer offer.