zdave87

Well, obviously, Martha spends way too much on you.

mikegarrison

Credit card for most things, cash otherwise. I don't own or use a debit card. Credit cards are a great deal, assuming you pay off your balance in full every month. They are a lousy deal if you don't.

I will occasionally use a "preloaded" store card (eg. "Starbucks card"), but only when I am given them as a gift. Otherwise I see no reason to give Starbucks my money now in exchange for drinks in the future. Why not just wait until the future to give them my money?

But since I own some Starbucks stock, I encourage all the rest of you to prepay for Starbucks cards!

I almost never write checks, except for once a month to pay my credit card bill or for transactions with people (like paying my dad for my share of our season ticket package, etc.).

Legal Bill

I like having $40 or more in my pocket. I use it for the small purchases. Anything big, or anything purchase from a store with an automated teller gets the CC.

Chris Stack

Only if you give someone your PIN. If they use the card as a "Credit" card (which isn't credit at all, but requires a signature instead of a PIN) you have the same protection as a credit card.


At any rate, I almost never have cash. I don't frequent stores that don't take debit card (like my company cafeteria). I hate taking out cash, because getting a $20 to buy $5 worth of lunch means I blow $15 on random stuff, but with a debit card I only actually pay what I need to pay. I do use USAA which reimburses my ATM fees (up to $15/mo, which is plenty).

Scooterboy

Discover and BP for me. I love the cash back options.

PanteraKitty

I'm with Legal Bill on this one. I have a CITI bank VISA that has a rebate and a AAA VISA from MBNA that has a rebate on gas and travel related expenses. ATM card from BOA is good for getting cash just about anywhere and there is no fee if I use a BOA machine.

Credit card companies think we are deadbeats because we pay off the card monthly so we dont pay any interest.

Tip for foreign travel - use your credit cards and ATM card. Your bank will usually get a better exchange rate than you can.

NNY S2k

I guess I'm still old fashioned...use mostly cash for gas, fast food, small purchases etc. Debit card gets used for things like groceries or larger purchases.
Levi

S1997

I don't like credit cards, and I don't like to pay with cash. Chris lets me use a Merrill Lynch Signature Rewards Visa card for everything including gasoline (so I don't have to go inside to pay)-- it works like a credit card, but takes the money directly from my account and sounds like, but is not a debit card. There is no monthly bill and no accumulation of balance. There is a constant accumulation of 'points' (3% of each purchase) that we use mostly to pay for air travel. The card works at any ATM and absorbs all fees connected with getting cash. Because of my kids' regular needs, I always have to make sure to have some cash in my pocket, too -- but not a big roll.

I also like the convenience of using Paypal when possible.

MsPerky

I carry cash and one credit card. No debit card and I don't use ATM machines. I have a credit union at work, so I just get cash from there when I need it. Pay off the credit card every month. I like to keep things simple!!

frank b

A little dirty cash in the pocket is not a bad thing. I do like a card at the gas pump though.