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Do I need a credit card?

Posted on 8/15/19 at 7:00 am
Posted by Sasquatch_Rooster
Houma
Member since Jul 2019
71 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 7:00 am
I'm about to turn 30 and I've never owned a credit card.

I own my own business and have opportunities where I could use a credit card for cash back. Just terrified I might miss a payment and get stuck with a high interest payment.

What are the benefits of having a credit card?
Posted by RedlandsTiger
Greenwell Springs, LA
Member since Jan 2008
3122 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 7:09 am to
I don't think you rent a car or a hotel room (at least the hotels I've been to) without a credit card.
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
21302 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 7:25 am to
Do you need one? No.

The benefits:
- Cash back (free money if you are disciplined enough to use a CC like cash)
- Purchase protection (many CCs provide insurance or protection in the event of a transaction gone bad)
- One monthly transaction on the checking account instead of many
Posted by The Spleen
Member since Dec 2010
38865 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 7:38 am to
quote:

Just terrified I might miss a payment


You really have to be a lazy dumbass to do that these days when you can set up auto-payment online.
Posted by Suntiger
STG or BR or somewhere else
Member since Feb 2007
35496 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 8:19 am to
quote:

I'm about to turn 30

quote:

I own my own business

quote:

I've never owned a credit card.


I find this very interesting. I imagine you either come from a very wealthy family or you are a drug dealer. Not sure how you do business, at such a young age in 2019, without ever having a credit card.

To answer your question, the benefits are that you are able to use it almost anywhere, you have fraud protection, you can get cash back or travel points or other things. Some get you discounts for airlines, rental cars, etc.

I only use my card and pay it off each month so I get points. As someone said, you can also select to auto pay.
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
21302 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 8:25 am to
He has probably only used debit cards.
Posted by Sasquatch_Rooster
Houma
Member since Jul 2019
71 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 8:33 am to
quote:


I find this very interesting. I imagine you either come from a very wealthy family or you are a drug dealer. Not sure how you do business, at such a young age in 2019, without ever having a credit card. 


Not from a wealthy family and not a drug dealer.

I had a stroke of luck when I got out of the military. Had to have a certain type of Machinary for my line of work. Paid for it on my own operation and custom hired it out and made some good money and it snowballed from there.

I've never had a credit card and have always been told that they were a terrible idea. Never needed one I guess.

When short on cash my bank always have given me a line if credit to operate on.
Posted by VABuckeye
NOVA
Member since Dec 2007
38283 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 8:33 am to
Which is really dumb because a comprised debit card is access to the money in the account. Yes, there's protection but it's really not a smart way to run a business.
Posted by Displaced
Member since Dec 2011
32980 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 8:35 am to
quote:

have always been told that they were a terrible idea.

Bad advice from people who are bad with money.
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 10:10 am to
quote:

Bad advice from people who are bad with money.

exactly.
OP, you must never travel extensively, and certainly never outside the country. A credit card, provided you pay off your balance in full, is a fantastic financial tool that can actually provide you with peace of mind. I don't worry about getting stranded, needing medical care, or running out of cash with a credit card in my pocket when out and about in the world. Most routine emergencies can be smoothed over with money.

A credit card is just a tool for using your money. Are you disciplined in how you use your money? Then you will be disciplined in how you use your credit card. Why would you "fear" missing a payment if you don't miss payments on any of your other accounts?

As someone upthread said, set it to AutoPay out of a savings account with a fat balance if you need to do so for peace of mind.
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