Credit card or Debit card?

[zen]

i like both, But I would rather have a debit card, I feel they are easy because you are spending your own money. Not someone else's who you will have to pay back with interest. On the other hand credit cards allow you to buy expensive things that you don't have the money to afford, and you pay it back over months. What would you prefer and why?

[Dradam]

Debit, every time...
It's far too easy to get alot of credit cards today and wind up in a lot of debt then forced to go bankrupt which creates all sorts of problems later.
People are far too lenient with giving our credit without looking at the ramifications of it, and checking the damage it can do in the future. This damages the economy and ruins lives and businuisses.
Debit is money you've earned, and therefore in my mind its the money you have to spend because you've worked for it.
Credit is money that you have not yet earned, and if anything happens say you lose your job then it will come back and bite you in the ass...

[Vampyrelord]

Debit card, then you don't overspend.

This isn't a debate BTW.

/moved

[Rorschach]

Debit card, by a wide margin :rolleye09

You paying with your own money not some companies money that you have to pay back over time (which in turn makes the item more expensive).

The only time you should use a credit card is in a time of an emergency.

[TuRm0iL]

Debit all the way.
I know way too many people with huge credit card debt

[zen]

Thnx for moving it for meh, and what about the perks of credit cards? what if you just pay the entire bill when it come, and don't use it unless totally necessary

[Nicole]

Debit cards are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than credit cards.

Credit cards just screw you over, unless you know how to us them. And credit card companies will take advantage of that.

With Debit Cards, you're just taking the money directly out of your account and don't have to worry about paying back interest or anything.

The only downside is the overdraft fees. :x

@bludd: you're still paying an extra for interest, even if it's a couple of dollars. So you're still not really benefiting from anything except borrowing cash when you really need it and then paying the company back later on + interest.

The only credit card benefits is having cash in case you need it and then you can pay it back, and if you correctly use them, you can build your credit.

[Rorschach]

Thnx for moving it for meh, and what about the perks of credit cards? what if you just pay the entire bill when it come, and don't use it unless totally necessary
As i've said if you're in an emergency and are strapped for cash (but you should be better prepared in the future).

If you can pay the entire bill at once, then what was the purpose of using a credit card in the first place?

[Nicole]

Well, there could be the case that you really needed gas to get to work, but your paycheck didn't come in until a later date, so you use a credit card to fill your tank up and then pay it off when you get the bill in with your paycheck.

But way too many people don't see it like that and just keep maxing credit cards out and not even worrying that they will have to pay it all back someday =\

[Nubaa]

Credit cards aren't too bad if you have, you know... self control. Which a lot of people don't.

I use debit right now though. Just don't have a need for a credit card yet.

[zen]

well what of bank cards, they have better profitable benefits for using em. it's basically is the same, but better

[Guy]

Credit cards screw you over with bad credit.

As for debit cards, there's no interest fee so... yay. Besides, a debit card just condenses all your money into one card. A credit card could be holding future money from you if you don't know what the hell you're doing.


Debit cards all the way

[Neku]

Like everyone else, debit, it's way too easy to spend to much on a credit card. Not that i have problems spending over my limit..

Although i guess the plus side of a credit card as Elo' said if your waiting for some money to come to you, then you can buy the thing that day and then pay it back at the end of the month when your bill comes which should be enough time for you to recieve the money.

However overall if i can, i use a debit card.

[Graffik]

Well with a credit card, I can apply for all kinds of neat offers etc. from major franchises [O% interest on HDTV's from future shop anyone?]. I need a credit card for that in order to have a credit score etc. So they can check and approve, [hellish process btw]

In my opinion for somebody of middle class a credit card is better simply because it allows them to get possesion of things they can't afford at that moment. I can get that high-def 50' plasma when it's on sale not worrying about my next paycheck and etc.

Of course though interest sucks ass, and if I was rich it'd be debit all the way.

So it depends on the person, I guess./

[Manchester Black]

Debit card. Easy choice there. The only time someone should use a credit card is if they really need it for an emergency. I have a friend who uses his credit cards all the time and he's always paying bills. He barely has any money. Luckily he pays on time but still he just has no extra money. Debit cards are way better.

[Edgey]

Debit cards FTW \o/

You don't rack up huge debts if your a big spender this way, plus it's easier to keep up with how much your spending as well, plus you only need one of them.

[Asuka]

Debit ftw! Easier to manage your funds and you can't spend more than you have.

Credit Cards were created to suck out your souls and all of your monies. :S

[zen]

Debit ftw! Easier to manage your funds and you can't spend more than you have
:S

Well it depends on your company, some let you go over then they make you pay it back with interest.

[Yamamoto]

Debit cards all the way.

Credit cards are the root of all evil, especially when you're paying really expensive things :p

xD

If you don't have the money in the debit card but you really want something expensive, try budgeting and cutting back on unnecessary expenses ^^

[Future]

i don't have either but a debit card would be better, most of them don't have interest.

[Nicole]

Eh, I'll be honest. I do have 4 credit cards... no, 5 credit cards. I only have 2 that I need to pay off, though, which are regular credit cards. I use them pretty sparingly though.

I can safely say though, that once I get all these paid off, my credit is going to look pretty nice.

Some advice: When you go to a store like... Abercrombie or American Eagle, don't open up a credit card with them to get the 10-15% discount. Chances are, interest on your bill is going to be in the 20% range. Also, when they give you additional benefits, like 20% on a total purchase for a weekend or something, you have to use your credit card to get those... again, you're not benefiting from anything. So don't do it.

The benefits that credit cards tell you about really aren't benefits at all, and are just there to get you to use their credit card more.

Seriously, I'm chopping up all my credit cards. I'm really surprised that my credit is as good as it is now with all the cards I opened up. And any payments I have missed are the credit card company's fault for sending me the bill online when I was expecting it in the mail or mishaps with getting the payment to them even though I clearly sent it out.

Credit cards, are nothing more than a scam. Debit all the way. :|

After all these are paid off, I only plan on keeping the credit card that is affiliated with my bank in case of an emergency.

[Hiraishin]

I have a debit card.
People get carried away with credit cards, drive themselves in debt, lose their house, can't get another because of their credit and have to declare bankruptcy.

Thats not everyone, but for some its like that.
With debit, you use money you actually have, instead of what you have to come up with.

[Losstarot]

I use cash for most purchases (I love to count money. Nothing compares to the feeling of a wallet filled with cash.) but when I don't feel like stopping at the bank, I'll use my debit card.

I do have a credit card, but it's only as a backup. I don't buy things I don't need with my credit card, as that's a surefire way to screw yourself over. I always pay it off as soon as possible, and I never spend more than I make. The thing has saved my butt a few times though, like when I got sick and missed work for a whole paycheck that just so happened to come up on bill week. Heh.

[Manchester Black]

I use cash for most purchases (I love to count money. Nothing compares to the feeling of a wallet filled with cash.) but when I don't feel like stopping at the bank, I'll use my debit card.

I do have a credit card, but it's only as a backup. I don't buy things I don't need with my credit card, as that's a surefire way to screw yourself over. I always pay it off as soon as possible, and I never spend more than I make. The thing has saved my butt a few times though, like when I got sick and missed work for a whole paycheck that just so happened to come up on bill week. Heh.

Sounds like you have the right set up. People should have both a debit and a credit card, but not use them both equally. Once you start using a credit card, you turn into to one of those "ah what the hell, I'll pay it later....I want this now" people. That never turns out well.

[Rorschach]

I use cash for most purchases (I love to count money. Nothing compares to the feeling of a wallet filled with cash.) but when I don't feel like stopping at the bank, I'll use my debit card.

I like to do the same, then again I don't want to carry a lot of money on me :rolleye09

[Graffik]

I don't know if anyone else has had to deal with this, but yesterday I couldn't buy a game because they said 'no debit, credit only'.

Now that's some bullshit.

I had to go and get cash.

[Neku]

I use cash when i can, but when i'm buying something generally bigger which is more expensive, i usually don't have enough cash on me to buy it using Cash, so i used debit instead. I do have both a debit and credit card, but my credit card is only used if i'm in dire need of something and haven't got the cash for it that moment in time, which is rare.

[Rorschach]

I don't know if anyone else has had to deal with this, but yesterday I couldn't buy a game because they said 'no debit, credit only'.

Now that's some bullshit.

I had to go and get cash.
No, that has never happened to me. Where were you buying your game? You should use your debit card as a credit card, but if you were, then thats just strange.

[Graffik]

^ Well, I tried at 'Wal-mart', they said the debit wasn't working, and credit was.

I was like WTF?! isn't it the same machine??

Apparantely there has to be a connection to use debit, and it isn't required with credit cards.

Suspicious.

[Joan]

Debit all the way, although my card is both debit and credit card. So when my real money runs out, it just switches to credit. I never had to use the credit though, and for that I'm glad cause the interst is crazy and things ends up being much more expencive anyway..

My goal is to never have to use the credit part of my card (in other words never run ouf of money), I don't spend that much so I think i'l maki it, at least for a few more years : p

[DreamAngel]

Both are dangerous if you don't watch them! But I definately prefer debit, because then at least your money is your own... BUT, it can be just as dangerous as a credit card if you don't watch what you spend, expecially if you can run into overdraught

[Isis]

As bludd said, credit cards are really nifty when you need to buy something expensive. I use my credit card for emergencies (such as needing to buy a plane ticket), which is really what we should use it for, even if you know how much you spend. If you're still depending on someone for your credit card, then you shouldn't really be spending it. I have a joint bank account with my dad here in aus, so if I spend, he'll know where its going :P

I prefer debit cards because it takes it out of the bank account without interest (depends which card you get though haha) and they tend to have limits on them. Of course the limit can be pretty high up, but I know I don't spend it for other things other than withdrawing money for weekly allowances + rent expense.

People use debit a lot here but sometimes there will be cases where you won't be able to use it. If I can't pay cash, I'll pay on credit but I'll let my dad know when I use it.

Actually, he helped me a bit to manage my finances by making me make note of how much I spend a day. I've been doing it since december, and I can see what I've spent money on, as well as how much I've saved. And it helps dad to know that Im buying things for the right things (like making sure Im eating lol), and not trivial stuff.

[Harley Quinn]

Apart from being able to buy things online with both I can't really think of any other good they can do. I'd much rather stick with my cold, hard cash thanks. But if I had to choose I'd pick debit every time, I'm pretty careful with money and I'm sure I could handle a credit card no problem, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[Aeolyn]

I have a debit card, but it is absolutely fail for when I visit the States, because it never works.

I also only have $8.07 on it.

>.>

I do need a credit card for when I go to Europe, but I don't think I'll have trouble keeping within my limits.

I hope. >.>

[Wacer]

Debit card wins for me any day, that why you never are tempted to spend more then what you have and get yourself in trouble. Plus some of those Credit cards can kill you in fees and interest stuff. Living above your means can only come to hurt you in the long run

[Rabid_Wolverine]

Debit card for me. I never buy anything so expensive that I can't afford it with my own bank account. Plus there's stupid interest with credit cards. I'll probably need a credit card later on though.

[Ai]

The best thing to get i've been told and which I'm debating over getting and putting $500 is called a master Debit card, Basically it's a debit card except it's also VISA so you can use it over the internet in place of a credit card but because its debit you can only use the amount of money you have in your account which Is good for someone like me because then I can use it to buy some small stuff off of ebay and deposit money into my pokerstars account and not go overboard on what a credit card would give me.

[Sakura]

i have both, but i prefer my debit card. my husband wants me to use the credit card more tho since we earn points faster with it apparently. since i'm not the one paying the credit card off i use it for everything except my smokes. i'd feel bad if he paid for my bad habit.


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[Night Prowler]

Debit, as you have a choice not to go in debt.

[Chrono Detector]

Of course using a debit card. I have both, and I use my debit card all the time. I only use my credit card for online purchases only. Using a debit card is so simple and as most of you mentioned, a credit card can screw you over, especially if you lost it and somebody finds it and uses it and the bill comes... what a nightmare.

[dragoneyes001]

actually I'll go against the majority by saying credit cards are better because they can be used properly if the owner has some self control and allows them to deal with emergency expences that debit cards can not.

[Xkavanger]

Debit Card.

That way you don't have to pay back. :)

Sorry if that's already been mentioned, but still.

Use the teh cards of teh future! :o

[KaliKal]

check card!!!!!
cause it can be used for both debit and credit :P

but i would say black american express(credit) ftw

[ske105]

Credit cards tend to be much safer. I use Capital One at the moment. They have online fraud protection and have helped in the past when my details have been stolen. If your debit card details are stolen then a user can transfer funds very quickly and very easily; not much can be done about this. I prefer to use a method such a paypal when paying online though.

[IceQueen99]

Debit card is fine for me...but beware of pre-aproved credit card on a mail.

[Urdie]

yay for spending money on things when you don't really have the money :) Credit Cards FTW

[VIDTID]

I prefer a Debit card its way easier to with draw cash and pay plus chip and pin......
my debit card number is 2323232... lol jk:p

[-ONE-]

I have a debit card so i like the debit card better. :):)

[Kurosaki Isshin]

Debit Card because you dont have to borrow money from anyone.

[Z_Blitz]

My opinion goes with the majority here: Debit Card =P.

[McSlash]

Debit Card.

I have two friends who are already in debt because they couldn't wait to try out their new Credit Card's. They're both 17 and upwards of $2k in debt.

[Vamp O Drama]

Debit card. Don't like borrowing money...

[illmatic_unol]

I say debit all the way but the only problem i run into all the time is that I'm just to damn lazy to do my check book and always wind up with $5 in my account. That reminds me i should look up my e-statement and get to work on it ASAP.:sad

[StormsFury]

I have a combination of both but it is my money that is being used not a company that I'll end up in debt to for the rest of whenever.

[Guy]

Well, now it looks like I will have to use my credit card. Credit card builds up credit... so yeah, you need good credit in life.

[RogueofRogues]

Take this advice fomr a 35 year old , who owns his own resort, not kidding nor bragging, and has done business for a VERY long time. CUT UP ALL CREDIT CARDS EXCEPT FOR AMERICAN EXPRESS. PAY them off, and forget them. AMEX keeps you honest and NEVER puts you in debt. and it also builds your credit rating while balancing your credit indexes if paid on time and within your limits. they will give you extensions over time, aloowing for more monthly credit room, take THEM! but dont use them unless it is an emergency. you will build your credit, and your credit score while staying honest and living withing your means.

everything else, pay cash for or amex, but mostly cash. your credit will sore, and you will still have a backup card for those big emergencies. Take my word on this, i wouldnt lead you astray or do you wrong here. i have lived and learned this lesson all too well lol.

[II Xion II]

Credit card simply because most places except credit cards and not debit cards, though I only like spending money I have so in a perfect world I would choose a debit card.

[xiphosforr]

debit all the way- its easier to stay on top of your money
:D
which is a gd place to be