I prefer cash. I simply don't like the idea that my every purchase is recorded somewhere in some massive database and cash gives me at least the illusion of anonymity.
I carry my credit card with me at all times, and I usually have about $200-300 of walking around cash on hand, just in case.
I don't like credit cards, but I have been encouraged to get one just to improve my credit in the long run. Debit cards, from my experience, didn't really encourage thrift. If it weren't for my massive undergraduate debt, I would probably be shopping right now for useless stuff.
I think there's something radically wrong with a system that encourages using as much credit as possible as a smart life strategy, but I guess that's a discussion for another time. I'm glad I live in a place where having a credit card isn't in any way a necessity, though.
I've always used both. I don't really have a preference. What ever gets the job done.
I use cash for small purchases, tips, and at bars (I have a problem with forgetting to close my tab and leaving my card at the bar ). I use credit cards for everything else. I have several low-interest cards that accumulate reward points (one is cash back, one is points that can be used as cash on Amazon.com, and one racks up airline miles). I typically pay my balances completely every month, so I end up paying the minimum interest charge, which is usually about a dollar. My rewards accumulation offsets the interest charges many times over. They also all have zero fraud liability, so if my card gets stolen, cloned, etc., I'm not liable for any of the charges. I'd literally be losing money by using cash.
I agree, but that's just how credit scores work. If you have no credit history, a potential lender has no idea what kind of a risk you are. It stinks to encourage people to incur debt, but at some point many people want to get an auto loan or a mortgage, and if you have no credit history you're pretty much put into an "unknown/high-risk" bucket by lenders.
Don't even get me started on credit scores. A company (multiple ones, even) have access to info *I* never gave them. Then they charge me money to look at these scores. Also, if I want to look, it lowers my score? m I want to blow these fraudulent businesses up, or at least take them to court for stealing MY personal information...
Card, but I'm growing weary of it. Already a victim of CC theft a few times. Just had to renew my Debit card this month, in fact. edit: "Wary", I mean
I use cash, which I pull from an Automated Teller using My Debit Card.
I am amazed at People Who use a Debit/Credit Card for everything, but I know it is a Generation Gap.
I don't know. I'm Gen X.. pushing 40. Not that young.
It's just convenient. The debit that is. I don't like credit.
I use neither a mobile phone or credit cards. I just voted credit because I use my debit's Mastercard number (still uses checking account).
I try to avoid credit use when I can. Which is most of the time.
I have none of these things, I must be a throwback to an earlier purer time
Nope, since banks have stopped issueing checkbooks
Cashcard for getting money out, cash for most everything, standing order or direct debit for a few things, but no debit or credit cards
I rarely use checks, but there are times when it's practically the only option. For example, there are companies that perform services (plumbers, landscapers, etc.) that don't take credit cards. I'm certainly not going to give them cash (no paper trail in case I have an issue with them), so my choice is either to write them a personal check, or drive somewhere to buy a money order (which is a pain, since I now live in the middle of nowhere...well, comparatively...).
Keep it, precious
I think they will still give you one if you ask for it but my bank has certainly stopped sending them out automatically