Personal Finance

I live in the US. I use a credit card for all my purchases because not only does it shift liability from my money to the bank's money, it also pays me a % in the form of cash back and I pay it off in full every month to avoid any interest charges. It's extremely important that my credit card balance is never higher than my checking and savings combined to ensure I really can pay it off in full.

US here. Yes, I use it for everything that I can because:

• rewards
• better fraud protection
• features, like no foreign transaction fees
• delayed payment, meaning my money can earn interest
• build credit

I haven't used a debit card in years (though I have two), and I haven't regularly used cash pretty much ever (though I carry some). I actually have like 10 credit cards, though I only regularly use 2.

If I had to pay extra to use credit, I would probably use it a lot less.

In the UK, as long as you are able to track your finances well enough to ensure you repay the balance in full each month (you can arrange for this to happen automatically), there's no reason not to use a credit card.

You should especially use it for purchases over £100 as by law card issuers are jointly liable for problems with goods purchased, so if I have a warranty issue the retailer won't help with I can go through section 75 with my bank

I have never purchased something on a credit card and had it on the balance long enough to pay interest though, the rates are insane.

If in the US, there is almost no downside to credit cards as long there's no annual fee and you pay it off in full every month. Most credit cards have some kind of rewards like cashback, miles, discounts, etc., so you gain something from using them. Banks are also very strict with fraud (because it's their money you're spending), so they will most likely side with you if you file a claim for unauthorized purchases. If you used a debit card, it's your money that gets stolen; and while the bank will try its best to recover it, they have less incentive to work for it compared to a credit card.

I use a credit card because our laws in the USA protect credit-card purchases better than they do debit-card and other electronic purchases.

Although I use a credit card with revolving credit, I always pay the full balance each month. In this way, it acts as a debit card, but I get the benefits of a credit card. I have to remember to pay it on time, but I can set up autopay even for that.

My credit union (a kind of non-profit bank owned by its members) is the issuer of the card, and it gives a 2% cash award for credit-card usage.

I use a credit card for everything, especially large purchases that don't charge an additional transaction fee to use the card. I also pay it off each month. I get 3-5% back when I use it. It would be quite stupid/lazy not to take free money, while also keeping my credit score at 847 (last I checked).

Use a credit card for every single purchase that will allow it. I have the Amazon prime rewards card, and we order our dog food and many household items from there at 5% cash back.

I acquire cash back and it goes towards the balance each month. I pay the balance in full each month, thereby reaping the rewards (free money) and never pay a cent in interest. Been doing this for years.

Another reason I do this is because I do not want my routing and account numbers online with any business.

One small breach of your bank account and your life savings can be gone. I'm not trusting any big business with that, not to mention the fraud protections other users have mentioned.

If you can exercise discipline it's a no brainier.

American here. Not only do I use credit cards for all of my purchases (and pay them off every month, so no debt builds up), but I am finding it increasingly hard to use cash on a daily basis, even when I want to. I used to prefer cash, especially on trips, as a way to control spending when needing to stick to a budget. But now so many places here have stopped taking cash altogether, or shuffle cash purchases off to a separate process which takes longer. I still carry cash, but find I rarely use it.

But all the different types of electronic payments now are confusing. I recall getting stuck at an airport once, and sitting near a place that had food for a few hours. They took cash, credit, and Google Pay, but not Apple Pay. I was amazed by the number of people who end up walking away when they realized that, and who didn't have an alternate way to pay.

I never did, because in Europe people don't need to build a credit score, and it is usually advised to only use money you have.

Anecdotal evidence, but the only people I know that use them have a tendency to overspend.

I'm in the US. I use my credit card for utility bills, groceries, gas, and whatever else I'm buying during the month. Anything like a mortgage or car payment I pay from my bank account. Every month I pay off the card so I don't get interest charges.

In France, most of people don't even realised that credit cards shown in american TV productions aren't like our (debit) cards.
But that's totally normal when you see someone paying with a card to assume that they have indeed pay, rather than assuming that they have indebted themselves despite being able to afford the product.

American here, 99% of the time I use credit cards. It's just generally easier than carrying cash and nearly all vendors accept it. Beyond that I get a % back as points to trade for gift cards or in my case plane tickets. Another item is that if I get robbed I can quickly recover or head off any lost money.

I use credit cards for almost all purchases.

As long as you pay it off completely monthly, even modest perks make it an easy choice.

If you get a cash back/rewards card and pay in full every month, you get paid for shopping.

NZ here, I use it for online purchases. Credit cards have the advantage of extra fraud protection, as well as having a safety net of being able to do a chargeback in case the seller does fraud or something. I don't need to pay any interest on it either because I make use of the interest free days. I have a direct debit set up so the bill gets cleared on its own every month, so I don't forget and accidentally pay interest or something.

I don't. Used to have a prepaid credit card, but the services is gone now. I am seriously considering it for some time now, given that a lot of services, especially US based, require credit cards.

Totally! I always pay it off each month so there is no interest and I get tons of points.

They also give tons of other benefits, like accidental damage and theft protect on stuff for the first 30 days, double the manufacturers warranty, if I die over seas they will cover the cost to repatriate my body (I live in a foreign country)

There are tons of other things, too. Just don’t care to list them off. I do have to pay about $200/year to have the card, but I think it’s worth it due to the points back.

US resident, I use a rewards card for most purchases because I earn points that I can redeem for plane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars etc. I also make sure to pay the balance off every month to avoid interest.

I have one to shift large expenses to the end of the month. Just to have more room. I dont spend money I dont have or saved

Based in germany

No, because if I use the credit card issued by my bank, I have to remember to pay it back. The bill doesn't appear the same day, so I have to check back a few days later. Just long enough to forget half the time. There is no automatic payoff, so I see it as a trap to charge interest from me.

Edit, I'm in the USA

Japan here. I use credit or cashless payments linked through credit almost exclusively. It makes it easy to manage family finances, as although there are no joint bank accounts here, you can have family credit cards. So one card for family expenses, and another for personal expenses.

Plus by default, credit cards in Japan are basically charge cards; they are paid off every month by direct debit. There is no interest in this case. You can also split payments over two months without incurring interest. Also, many credit cards offer bonus payment (typically workers receive summer and winter bonuses, card companies allow you to delay payment until that time without incurring interest).

No. I'd rather not owe the bank anything.

(I live in France. They are not a thing here.)

In Europe they are basically featureless, and the only people I have seen using them were those who struggle with consumerism.

I've only really used them when theres a 0% offer and I've been making a big purchase. I use my debit card day-to-day.