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cured credit card, or a card backed by a security deposit. With such cards, your limit is typically equal to the deposit. If you put down a $200 deposit, for example, you would get a $200 limit.

No matter how you got a low credit limit, it’s now up to you to manage it. In part, that means keeping your balances low. Using too much of your available credit — which is easy to do with a low limit — can drive up your credit utilization ratio, or the percentage of available credit you’re using, and sink your credit scores in a hurry.

To keep your scores healthy, a rule of thumb is to use no more than 30 percent of your credit card’s limit at all times. On a card with a $200 limit, for example, that would mean keeping your balance below $60. The less of your limit you use, the better. Here’s how you can keep your balance low:

• Make multiple payments each month. Your credit utilization ratio is based on what your balances are when your issuer reports them to the credit bureaus each month. Suppose you spend $80 on groceries on your card, putting you closer to your $200 limit. If you pay that card off right after you make the purchase, instead of waiting for the bill, you could lower your balance before your issuer reports to the bureaus.

• Borrow sparingly. Keep in mind that you can build a good credit history simply by charging a pack of gum or cup of coffee each month to your credit card and paying it off in full and on time.

Don’t be afraid to ask

A low credit limit isn’t a life sentence. If your limit hasn’t beenautomaticallyincreasedafter several months of responsible borrowing, try a more direct approach: Ask for a higher limit.

“It’s just like going to your boss and asking for a raise. If you’ve not been doing well . your boss is going to say no,” Siddiqi says. But if you’ve been paying on time and borrowing responsibly for months, or if your income recently increased, your chances of getting approved for an increase are better.

Requesting a limit increase, which can trigger a hard pull on your credit report, may cause your credit scores to drop by a few points in the short term. But if it helps you unlock a higher limit — and all the flexibility and benefits related — it could be worthwhile. This article originally appeared on the personal finance website NerdWallet. Claire Tsosie is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: claire@nerdwallet. com. Twitter: @ideclaire7.