Using credit card for daily expenses

[Mike_H]

I'd argue that's not due to the nature of the card, but using any card. It's much more prevalent when you watch the wallet thin than just hand over a bit of plastic.

Yeah, plastic in general doesn't have the effect, for me, like counting out money. Different too, when you have direct deposit. I'm old enough to remember going to the bank to cash my payroll check. It was easy to equate that money with work all week.

Now that it's all electronic and direct deposit, I use my debit card for everything. I only posted the psychological thing as it's a definite factor for some.

 

[pagrey]

I always carry a good amount of cash (blue Jeep if you want to rob me), it helps at gas stations that are cash only, when the power is out and when you get cash discounts. Everything else I use a card, it's set on auto-pay and it always will be. If you don't have the money then you shouldn't spend it. Not using a card is throwing away 2-5% on everything. That cash back thing is money in your pocket whatever the deal you get is. I don't play mind games with myself to trick me into spending differently.

 

[Zorba]

Cash always seems to disappear quickly so I try to not carry it.

Same here.

 

[LarryTJ]

Yeah, plastic in general doesn't have the effect, for me, like counting out money. Different too, when you have direct deposit. I'm old enough to remember going to the bank to cash my payroll check. It was easy to equate that money with work all week.

Now that it's all electronic and direct deposit, I use my debit card for everything. I only posted the psychological thing as it's a definite factor for some.

Does your debit card cover against fraudulent debits similar to a credit card?

 

[JMT]

What are the cons? The pros are I hate seeing multiple small charges every day for shit like coffee, gas etc and this would eliminate that...I got to thinking why not just put that stuff on a credit card and pay it in full each month (I will for sure pay it every month). What am I not thinking of or missing?

That's the way we do it.

It works well for us. We pay off the card every month.

The caveat is that we only use the card for monthly budgeted expenditures like house payment, food, supplies, house maintenance, bills.

Things like my special coffee, a Jeep mod, a welder, a pedicure, massage, something just for me, whatever that may be, we have cash for that and use it to pay back the account that will pay for the CC or if we can use cash on the spot, prefer to do that.

 

[Mike_H]

Does your debit card cover against fraudulent debits similar to a credit card?

Seems to. I've been notified quite a few times about suspicious activity. We also had a few charges reversed once, when my wife was the victim of identity theft.

 

[pagrey]

Does your debit card cover against fraudulent debits similar to a credit card?

Great point, debit has similar protections but is worse all around. Debit cards are like the Dana 35 of plastic.

 

[tr21triton]

i'm 56 and have had a card since i was 18. only paid interest twice in my life on a cc. i charge EVERYTHING (phone, cell, internet, power, EVERYTHING) on it and pay off every month and get 2-3% cash back. it's a win-win for me. for years i used a Bass Pro shop card and every December I would go and walk out with $7-800 of stuff for nothing, the last time before they changed the card i walked out with a $750 ar-15 for $50. if you are disciplined enough to stay within your budget and pay it off monthly it's a no brainer to use it for everything. only time i use cash is when they charge extra for using a card, i'm not paying 4% to get 2% back....

 

[JMT]

I'd argue that's not due to the nature of the card, but using any card. It's much more prevalent when you watch the wallet thin than just hand over a bit of plastic.

Who carries a wallet anymore? LOL

Now I just carry a phone with 3 cards (DL, two CC). Cash in my pocket when I plan to spend it and only then.

Actually I loved getting rid of my wallet. It was always on one butt cheek and I have to sit all day, so I was lopsided. If I took it out I would end up leaving it somewhere and I couldn't find it. Then I'd have to run all over the house to find it. With a phone, I pretty much never forget where it is, and when I have it, I have purchasing power. G2G.

In the end, whatever works for you!

 

[rasband]

Who carries a wallet anymore? LOL

Now I just carry a phone with 3 cards (DL, two CC). Cash in my pocket when I plan to spend it and only then.

Actually I loved getting rid of my wallet. It was always on one butt cheek and I have to sit all day, so I was lopsided. If I took it out I would end up leaving it somewhere and I couldn't find it. Then I'd have to run all over the house to find it. With a phone, I pretty much never forget where it is, and when I have it, I have purchasing power. G2G.

In the end, whatever works for you!

I've always done a minimalist wallet, but like keeping the two valuable things I regularly carry separate

 

[williambmac]

This is what we do as well. We have a monthly budget and stick to it. I won't use a debit card as that's a direct pipeline into my bank account if its compromised. The credit card assumes all the risk.

I refuse to use my debit card for any purchases. Several months ago my wifes debit card was compromised, 2700.00 worth of orders from door dash. The hoops I had to jump through to get a one time adjustment with BOA was a major PITA.

 

[Zorba]

I refuse to use my debit card for any purchases. Several months ago my wifes debit card was compromised, 2700.00 worth of orders from door dash. The hoops I had to jump through to get a one time adjustment with BOA was a major PITA.

Exactly. My bank account is sacrosanct. Its not even online.

 

[Apparition]

I refuse to use my debit card for any purchases. Several months ago my wifes debit card was compromised, 2700.00 worth of orders from door dash. The hoops I had to jump through to get a one time adjustment with BOA was a major PITA.

I haven't carried a debit card for years. Can't pull money out of an ATM is the only downside but I can ask Mrs App to do it so it all works out.

 

[cliffish]

I refuse to use my debit card for any purchases. Several months ago my wifes debit card was compromised, 2700.00 worth of orders from door dash. The hoops I had to jump through to get a one time adjustment with BOA was a major PITA.

I don't even have a debit card, unless the ATM card is the same? I have not hit up an ATM in 20 years. I have had several CC frauds, some detected before use and some after. One phone call is all it takes and the charges go away.

 

[Pokahpolice]

My Cabela's card has paid for my last 3 firearms purchases. My business card has paid for my last 2 trips to the Philippines. My wife is Filipino so we go quite often (and yes those are both spelled correctly). There really isn't a downside as long as you have some sort of disciplined spending habits.

The cash vs card argument with spending is an old school argument. Today's generation rarely sees cash. Hell, my generation barely uses cash.

 

[Pokahpolice]

I don't even have a debit card, unless the ATM card is the same? I have not hit up an ATM in 20 years. I have had several CC frauds, some detected before use and some after. One phone call is all it takes and the charges go away.

Most of today's debit cards are protected by the same standards. I had a disputed charge on mine about a month ago and they credited my account immediately. Debit cards and credit cards are somewhat interchangeable these days for most major banks.

 

[cliffish]

Most of today's debit cards are protected by the same standards. I had a disputed charge on mine about a month ago and they credited my account immediately. Debit cards and credit cards are somewhat interchangeable these days for most major banks.

I guess, but I still don't like the direct link to a bank account. I would rather just write one big check at the end of the month (that is speaking figuratively...I mean online pay the card)

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I only use the CC for occasional larger dollar purchases that will get me a noticeable amount of cash back. I have a Chase card that rotates categories every quarter and spending in that category gets 5% back. This quarter has been purchases through Paypal...so guess what I used to pay for front and rear chromoly axle shafts, a lunchbox locker, a swayloc and an engine skid?

I've never been able to use them regularly for day to day purchases without ending up spending the same money twice (once with the credit card, then again with the debit card before the credit statement has come in). It might be easier if it was all on the CC and never used the debit card, but mixing the two ends up with me experiencing very PMS-like symptoms on a monthly cycle synchronized with my CC statements.

 

[tr21triton]

i've never used a debit or atm card, but always carry a few hundred in cash just in case, and like rasband i keep my 3 valuables separate in case of a dishonest person. #1 wallet is empty. #2 is a money clip with $100 bills and #3 is always locked and loaded. he can have #1 and if he wants more i will throw #2 on the ground and when he grabs #2 off the ground he will be looking down the barrel of #3. you always have to know before hand what you'll do in a pinch

 

[Zorba]

My Cabela's card has paid for my last 3 firearms purchases. My business card has paid for my last 2 trips to the Philippines. My wife is Filipino so we go quite often (and yes those are both spelled correctly). There really isn't a downside as long as you have some sort of disciplined spending habits.

The cash vs card argument with spending is an old school argument. Today's generation rarely sees cash. Hell, my generation barely uses cash.

I haven't really used cash in decades. Checks for many years, but a CC with monthly payoff now.