<prompt> Human: This has probably been asked before. I got my first credit card last month and Ive been relying on it heavily to help me get through a month and a half with no pay from my teaching jobs. My first check came today and I have four more paychecks coming within the next two weeks. I racked up 800 in credit card charges, and they were mostly gas, groceries, and paying a few bills. Now that Im getting paid again, Ive decided that I want to make an aggressive debt paydown plan because I dont like having this kind of debt! I plan to use my CC as little as possible after this.I got my first statement from the CC company earlier this month and my balance due was 420. Since then Ive spent another 400 so my current balance is now 800 and the bill is due at the beginning of October.My question is this: do I only need to pay the 420, or do I pay the whole balance 800? Also, should I pay down the balance or 0, or should I leave 10-15 on the card for when my CC company sends it report to the credit bureaus? My credit score dropped due to heavy utilization so I want to get it up again.To be honest I plan to pay down the whole balance because I want to get rid of this debt as soon as possible, but I guess the real question is whether to pay it to zero or leave something on it.  <response>: This has probably been asked before.Why, yes. Yes, it has. Many, many times.You should pay the entire statement balance on or before the due date. Thats not the same as your total balance. Do not leave any of the statement balance just because you mistakenly think it helps your credit to do so. 