I've see a lot of comments about credit cards and people mentioning stuff like it's better to use a debit card and to "pay the balance off in full each month", but you are absolutely incorrect. Now it is true, obviously, that you should pay the balance off in full every month, not doing so is how the credit card companies make money, but using your credit card is nearly universally better Jan debit for two reasons:
1. At least in the US, you receive cash back for using a credit card. As an example, many cards offer 1-2% straight up cash back. Even if you used it in the most inefficient manner, such as just getting the cash back instead of discounted airfare or something, that's a lifetime of saving 1-2% on all your purchases. That's huge.
2. Protection. It's simple. If I use a card and get scammed (mostly happening in Europe I might add), then if I used a debit card it is my money that has been stolen and now I have to get it back. If I use the credit card? It's the banks money.
Now I know obviously that there are people who don't pay their bills, lose their job, or whatever and that's how the companies make money, and maybe if we all used cash things would be cheaper or something, but unless there is a serious movement in that direction you should always use a credit card, even the most basic one you can.
I'll also mention that this doesn't cover the plethora of various benefits that you can use for different cards: automatic extension of warranties on purchases made with credit cards, automatic rental car insurance, etc....
1. At least in the US, you receive cash back for using a credit card. As an example, many cards offer 1-2% straight up cash back. Even if you used it in the most inefficient manner, such as just getting the cash back instead of discounted airfare or something, that's a lifetime of saving 1-2% on all your purchases. That's huge.
2. Protection. It's simple. If I use a card and get scammed (mostly happening in Europe I might add), then if I used a debit card it is my money that has been stolen and now I have to get it back. If I use the credit card? It's the banks money.
Now I know obviously that there are people who don't pay their bills, lose their job, or whatever and that's how the companies make money, and maybe if we all used cash things would be cheaper or something, but unless there is a serious movement in that direction you should always use a credit card, even the most basic one you can.
I'll also mention that this doesn't cover the plethora of various benefits that you can use for different cards: automatic extension of warranties on purchases made with credit cards, automatic rental car insurance, etc....