Bankrate, Inc. released the findings of a national poll which found that 40% of consumers say they would not be upset if their credit lines disappeared. In fact, of the respondents who have credit cards, nearly one-third (32 percent) say they will probably charge less in 2009.

A much smaller group (only 5 percent) responded that they would be devastated with the loss of access to their credit cards. The poll is included in this month's segment of Bankrate's Financial Literacy Series: Fast track to becoming credit savvy.

Consumers also weighed in on credit card company terms and regulations and taxpayer bailouts to consumers in credit card debt. Key poll findings include the following:

- Most people (72 percent) emphatically disagree that credit card companies are entitled to change the terms of your account at any time for any reason, and nearly the same number (71 percent) strongly believe that credit card companies should be more closely regulated.

- Two-thirds of Americans (67 percent) say they strongly disagree that taxpayers should bail out consumers who find themselves in a big financial bind due to credit card debt.

- Only 6 percent of Americans report their line of credit was decreased. A whopping 44 percent say their line was unchanged; 41 percent say their line was increased.

- In looking to future use of credit cards, nearly one-third (32 percent) of respondents say they will probably charge less next year, while half say they won't change their usage. Only 1 percent plan to charge more and 15 percent say they don't plan on using credit cards at all in 2009.

- When asked to pick the single biggest reason they use credit cards, 40 percent say it is more convenient than paying with cash, and 19 percent say they use them to finance emergency expenses.