Had a long talk with myself about my credit card use

I use my credit card for everything, including supermarket shopping. I just tap the machine and it's done - no pin - it's called 'tap and go' - so convenient. Have no need for cash anymore as all bills are paid online, but still keep some at home for emergency.
yes same here for both CC and debit cards...altho'' you can choose to put your card into the machine and type your pin, but essentially it's a tap and go.. but with a debit card the limit is £100 before you must insert your pin number
 

I use my credit card for everything, including supermarket shopping. I just tap the machine and it's done - no pin - it's called 'tap and go' - so convenient. Have no need for cash anymore as all bills are paid online, but still keep some at home for emergency.
That’s me too. Love the Tap.

Our CCs are set to send an alert if the card is used.
 

@Marie5656 - I recommend keeping the credit card account open. Just pay it down month to month, like you said. And it's always a good idea to pay at least 10 or 20 bucks over the minimum if you can. My payments are set up as Auto-Pay through my bank, so I don't have to send a check, I just mentally deduct the payment amount from my monthly balance and always I know how much is in my account.

Anyway, I'd keep the account open. Just keep making the payments but don't use the card, at least not until the minimum payments come down to double digits.
 
Keep in mind debit cards fall under different laws then credit cards do .

you can be out of luck getting your money back if the bank rules against you with debit cards .

if you read the fine print on visa and master card zero liability conditions it leaves you quite vulnerable if the bad guys go through a non visa network .

it is never a good idea exposing your own money to fraud ….it is far better to use a credit card
 
Keep in mind debit cards fall under different laws then credit cards do .

you can be out of luck getting your money back if the bank rules against you with debit cards .

if you read the fine print on visa and master card zero liability conditions it leaves you quite vulnerable if the bad guys go through a non visa network .

it is never a good idea exposing your own money to fraud ….it is far better to use a credit card
only for purchases over £100 usually ... because if you're defrauded out of less than that, your Card company usually won't refund...

Pros Debit card..... Cons
There are no annual fees to payDebit cards don’t tend to come with the same rewards as some credit cards
They can be easy to apply forPurchase protection is more limited compared to a credit card
You’ll have some purchase protection under the Chargeback scheme if something goes wrongIf you use your debit card and it takes you into your overdraft, interest rates can be high
You can use debit cards to withdraw cash, usually fee-free
You can shop online, in store or over the phone

When is it better to use a debit card than a credit card?

It’s a good idea to think about when it’s best to use a debit card, rather than a credit card. For example, you might prefer to use a debit card in the following situations:
  • For small everyday purchases such as coffee or groceries
  • If you already have a lot of debt
  • If you want to keep track of your spending
One of the biggest advantages of a credit card is that it provides purchase protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. As long as your purchase costs between £100 and £30,000, you should get your money back if something goes wrong - for example, the item doesn’t turn up or the retailer ceases trading.

What are the pros and cons of a credit card?

As with debit cards, there are both pros and cons of using a credit card:
ProsCons
You can spend more money than you have, helping you to pay for unexpected expenses, or spread the costThere's a risk of getting into unmanageable debt
Providing you use your card sensibly, you can improve your credit score over timeInterest rates can be high if you don't pay the balance off in full
They are convenient to use and widely acceptedYou might be tempted to buy items you don't need
You can sometimes get 0% interest introductory dealsCash withdrawals charge high fees and daily interest, much higher than your standard APR
Credit cards are safer than cash because if your card gets lost or stolen, you can cancel it.If you miss a payment or go over your credit limit, you’ll pay a fee and this could also affect your credit score
Purchases are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit ActSome credit cards charge annual fees
You can take advantage of rewards or cashback schemes

When is it better to use a credit card than a debit card?

Thanks to the way they work, credit cards can be more useful than debit cards in certain situations. However, you’ll need to ensure you only ever spend what you can afford to pay back so that you don’t end up with a lot of debt you can’t repay.
Some reasons why you might chose to spend on your credit card rather than your debit card include:

  • To spread the cost – If you need to make a major purchase, such as a new washing machine or a holiday, you might not have enough money to pay up front. By using a credit card, you can spread the cost over several months - using a purchase card with a 0% deal means you can avoid paying interest for a number of months too.
  • To take advantage of reward schemes – Some credit cards offer cashback, enabling you to earn money back on your spending. Others offer rewards such as shopping loyalty points or airmiles. The more you spend, the more you’ll earn but most of these cards charge high rates of interest so it’s vital you repay the balance in full each month.
  • To build a credit score – If you need to improve your credit rating, using a credit card sensibly can help you to boost it. Once your credit score has increased, you’ll be able to qualify for better deals, lower rates and a higher credit limit.
  • If you need to protect your purchase – If you’re buying something between £100 and £30,000, you’ll get more protection if you use your credit card. Your credit card provider is jointly liable with the supplier for any faulty or substandard purchases. If the supplier goes out of business and you can’t get your money back from them, contact your credit card provider.

 
Debit card for all my grocery purchases and anything under £100.... and cash withdrawals

I would never use my Credit card at an ATM unless it was an Emergency... usually only use my credit card for online purchases. I pay my card off every month

My DD otoh uses her CC for everything, and pays it off in full every month ..
 
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The web is filled with debit card horror story’s because bad guys used non visa networks and as stated in their fine print they are not covered under zero liability. You really are at the mercy of the banks good will instead of laws when a situation is not black and white with a debit card

like every thing in life , nothing is a problem until it’s a problem
 
Keep in mind debit cards fall under different laws then credit cards do .

you can be out of luck getting your money back if the bank rules against you with debit cards .

if you read the fine print on visa and master card zero liability conditions it leaves you quite vulnerable if the bad guys go through a non visa network .

it is never a good idea exposing your own money to fraud ….it is far better to use a credit card
I was about to say the same thin, MJ.

The only time I use a debit card is to pull cash from a bank ATM or to verify my identity when inside the bank. Never, ever use it at a retailer for exactly the reasons you explain. I also DO NOT have overdraft protection enabled on my checking accounts nor are any of my other accounts tied to my checking accounts for OD purposes.
 
All the posts were very informational and helpful - thank you! Only time I use my debit card is to pull money from my bank's ATM. Cash is King, The things I pay with my credit card (ONLINE) are government payments i.e. taxes, property taxes, auto/home Ins, license plates & fees, my streaming (card req), Prime Membership and wireless bill (card req). For the card req accts I use a low limit card ($1K).

I never store my card or bank info online. In the last 12 years I've never had an issue. The last problem was someone gained info to a card, used it to buy skis ($1300), I've never skied. The CCC canceled my card, reimbursed the full amount and issued me a new card (Bob's yer uncle!). But the most important - I use a firewalled Linux OS only/WO bluetooth and change/reinstall it as often as I do my socks.
 
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You reinstall your OS often? Why?
Clears anything that may be left. Loads latest and greatest updates. It takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Give me a fresh OS. It's my way to do a complete reboot. I use flash drives for storage, encrypted files offline for passwords and personal info. But then again I'm anal.

I never use anything other than 'Firefox' with the following addons
addons.jpg
I personally hate trackers such as Google, Amazon, Facebook...etc. (The dirty 12)

Every night I run 'Bleachbit' to clear the system.

You asked!
 
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I have just one card...Discover. Because of the cash rewards and all. I was looking over my statements and realized I was using it WAY to much. Becoming too dependent on it. I had a my recurring and auto pays on it. My internet/ Hulu/Netflix etc. So I just finished going through all of them and switching my payment methods to my checking account only. No Discover.
I figure the reward points and cash are not worth it. I considered canceling it out right but do feel I want it for emergencies.

Now that I have all the payments off, it should be easier for me to get it paid down, and keep it low. I am only going to use it for Amazon now...and I have cut way back on Amazon purchasing (especially now that Christmas shopping is done.

Wish me luck. New Year New Me
We've had a Discover card for years and I use it for everything, including own monthly bills, like Netflix, Dish, utilities, etc.

I use it for Amazon and groceries and gasoline, too, but I check it a couple times a week to see what's on there and then I pay it right then. I like getting cashback, which I normally use on the payment. We don't have a car payment but we do have a house payment but it is taken out of our checking account by the mortgage company.

I've had other credit cards but don't use any of them, except Discover. I like that they notify me as soon as there's a suspicious charge, which has happened...to the tune of over $5,000. Discover took care of it with no hassle.

Discipline is the only way to use a credit card :)
 
Credit cards are good, ONLY, if you pay off the full balance every month. Carrying a balance, and only paying a portion of the bill quickly winds up costing more than paying by cash or check. Any "rewards" the credit card offers are far less than the interest they charge.
Exactly. We have a few credit cards we use, and if we can't afford to pay off the balance each month, we don't make the purchase. I have Discover, but I favor my Capital One card for cash back. Never paid interest on any credit cards.
 
Keep in mind debit cards fall under different laws then credit cards do .

you can be out of luck getting your money back if the bank rules against you with debit cards .

if you read the fine print on visa and master card zero liability conditions it leaves you quite vulnerable if the bad guys go through a non visa network .

it is never a good idea exposing your own money to fraud ….it is far better to use a credit card
The bank hubby and I are with are ON IT - so using debit is fine for us. However, I mainly use my debit card as credit.
 
Agreed. It's important to note that if you're using credit cards to spend money you don't have, you're spending your future.

True. What I really need to work on is my discipline. To not automatically pick the credit card to pay with when I know I have money in the bank to cover my purchase. I try to rationalize that if I cannot cover the purchase NOW...can it wait? I know I have overspent a bit for Christmas this year. But...This is my first "good" Christmas in a few years. 2019 was my first without my husband . And last year was, well, last year LOL.
I have put the card in my lock box until after Christmas. Do not want to add more to it right now, and get it paid down. I mean, I do not have a huge balance, and will have it paid off in a couple months,
My one BIG flaw is difficulty in managing my money well. In the past few years I have done better...so we will see
 
I may be wrong, but I think using a credit card is more secure than using a debit card (which I've never had) or using my bank account number. I don't ever have funds removed from my bank account in any way.
 
@Marie5656 - I recommend keeping the credit card account open. Just pay it down month to month, like you said. And it's always a good idea to pay at least 10 or 20 bucks over the minimum if you can. My payments are set up as Auto-Pay through my bank, so I don't have to send a check, I just mentally deduct the payment amount from my monthly balance and always I know how much is in my account.

Anyway, I'd keep the account open. Just keep making the payments but don't use the card, at least not until the minimum payments come down to double digits.
I complete agree, Murrmurr. I have still have credit cards I haven't used in years. Closing an account can lower one's credit score. Of course, that really only matters if you are applying for any new credit. I never know when I may want a new car, need a home equity loan, etc.

https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/will-closing-a-credit-card-hurt-your-credit/
 


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