Do you use credit cards?

ftm1234

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:08 pm

My parents have always had this policy that they use no credit cards. Only debit cards and cash. Once in a very long while they would use a check if they were desperate.

They claim it kept them out of a lot of unnecessary debt and I can see why they say that.

Now, my husband owns a credit card but he asked me to hide it because he felt he was spending too much. This way he only ever asks me for it when it's a true emergency.

Anyone else live like this?

Just asking out of curiosity and boredom Smile

Amarante

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:10 pm

I use a credit card for almost everything but I don't charge anything I wouldn't pay cash for.

I use the credit card for convenience and points and also because it is safer. Who wants to write checks for every purchase or carry cash?

ftm1234

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:11 pm

Amarante wrote:

No one

You use a debit card. That's what we do

amother

Buttercup

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:12 pm

I'm the poster of a thread a few weeks ago where I was sent a big ticket damaged product. Had I paid in cash or debit card it would be close to 4k down the drain. Because I paid with a credit card I had recourse and was able to decline the charge. Somebody on here mentioned a while back that for big ticket items they only pay with credit card for this reason.

Amarante

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:13 pm

ftm1234 wrote:

No one

You use a debit card. That's what we do

I don't own a debit card nor do I want one.

If a debit card is hacked money from your account is taken which can mess up checking accounts.

If your credit card is hacked you don't owe anything.

As I wrote, psychologically there is no difference to me in using a credit card because I know anything I charge needs to be paid for that month because I am not going to pay 22% interest on anything.

amother

Acacia

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:13 pm

I use credit cards. It was engrained in me since I am little.to build my credit for a mortgage later on. I got a cc on my 18th birthday. Lol
I was also taught I must pay it every single.month and never ever swipe unless you can pay it off. Bh been using cc for years without debt.

amother

Magenta

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:16 pm

I use credit cards and pay them off in full each month. You just need to be a responsible person and you can reap the benefits in terms of points, chargebacks, and theft protection.

saralem

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:19 pm

So much better not to get started with cc unless you’re very disciplined. I stopped using them and finally paid them off. Now I use only one card for my normal expenses for the sake of the points and pay it off every month. But not for big purchases that I can’t really afford. I finally learned to be more disciplined! It’s hard though when you don’t have enough money for food and kids shoes and you just need to make those purchases. Buyer beware!

ftm1234

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:21 pm

amother Magenta wrote:

I use credit cards and pay them off in full each month. You just need to be a responsible person and you can reap the benefits in terms of points, chargebacks, and theft protection.

Being responsible definitely helps.

But if you're more of an impulsive buyer I can see why a cc would be hard.

amother

Pear

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:40 pm

I use my cc to get points, ill pay it off that day usually. but ive been unemployed and my cc debt is almost 2000 atm. I hate buying stuff with money I dont have but I need to buy food and basics for the house. wish I could pay my therapist with a cc

HonesttoGod

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:43 pm

Use a cc but treat it like a debit so I pay it every single week. Don’t care much about the credit score or credit limit but I use my points to go visit my grandparents.

amother

Lime

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:45 pm

amother Buttercup wrote:

You can decline a debit card charge.
We stopped using credit cards after DH opened several and thought it's free money. He realized quickly that it isn't. (I don't blame him, this is how he grew up and how he see's his parents doing.) We decided no more credit cards. I keep one credit card for emergencies but it never came up bh.

amother

Ballota

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:52 pm

It really depends on your personality. Some people will never get the concept of credit that you MUST pay in full every month, and they will always see it as free money. And some people are uber responsible and will never put an extra cent on their credit cards.

For the people who either don't quite get the concept or who are impulse shoppers, credit cards are dangerous. But I do think with education, credit cards can be a powerful tool.

amother

Thistle

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 10:55 pm

My cc gives 2% back on certain purchases so that’s free $$ I’m not taking if I use debit card instead. Auto pay is in for cc bills so I always pay in full automatically.

amother

IndianRed

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 11:01 pm

We use a cc for everything. Pay it off every month (usually earlier) we definitely spend more money because we use a cc but we also pay it off every month and use the points for travel. 1 time we put a 4k tzedakah charge on the cc and couldn't pay it before interest was charged so I had to pay $80 interest the next month. Never again.

amother

Tan

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 11:06 pm

ftm1234 wrote:

Seems like we're in the minority then Smile

Married fifteen years no credit cards.

gr82no

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 11:29 pm

Always cc. We get cashback and points for purchases.
Me and my husband were very disciplined in our spending so we never owe money.
This way we set up auto payments and get a cheaper rate

amother

Blue

Mon, Aug 14 2023, 11:58 pm

I used to be very disciplined with my credit card and then life got busier and dh and I ended up unemployed at the same time and we accumulated debt. We switched to debit only until the high interest card was paid off which just happened this month. We might start using it again for specific higher points purchases like just gas or supermarkets but it needs to be part of a bigger overall financial conversation as we spent more in the past 6 months in interest than we ever made from points

amother

Skyblue

Tue, Aug 15 2023, 12:43 am

I understand not wanting to get a credit card because you might spend money you don't have, but at the same time it is very important to have credit history so that if you want to buy a house, get a loan etc... you can go to the bank and they will be able to help you. My parents always taught us as teens that you only use the card when you have the money to pay it fully off right away which I think is a great message.