This County Forces you to Have a Credit Card

[orangenblue420]

I am so pissed - ya know you cant do a damn thing in this country anymore if you don’t have a credit card.......

You cant buy anything online - you cant get a hotel room, rent a car, get a plane ticket,

In my past life (my days with my ex) my credit got really screwed up - long story short it started off good, we both had jobs, finally, got a new car, for the first time, and all was ok and he up and quit his job and stayed unemployed for 8 months (main reason we moved to oklahomer) anywho - after coming here we struggled and couldnt catch up -car got repo’d, I eventually had to file bankruptcy - once he left I went back to school but paid for it via student loans and lived off those and really high interest credit cards - now that I work two jobs I no longer need or want a credit card OR debit card - they did nothing but cause me problems in the past and I have NO self control with them - I refuse to get a debit or credit card cause I figured if I don’t have the cash in my actual pocket - I don’t need it - it’s the only way to keep myself from getting into debt once again - but this country does not allow me to function like the rest of society cause I don’t have a credit card - now things I want to get that require one for “security purposes” I cant have - I do know that I have made my own bed but still if I give a person/company all the same information a credit card company has, whats the difference - in this day and age of fraud, whos to know that that credit card is really that persons anyways - its just not right

[urinal_cake]

Credit cards are evil. Been there, done that went through bankruptcy and all. Probably the best decision I made regardless of what others might think. But I do have a debit card. Its so much more convenient than carrying a checkbook.
Anyway, definitely avoid the debt trap, unless you're buying a home.™

[SCI03]

I understand your delemna, it does suck. However, it is the way of the world. Let me ask you, Do you have a checking acct. If so most banks give you a debit card with a VISA sticker. You can use it like a CC but it takes your money from checking. so you are not spending money you don't have. I know you think you have self control issues, but I think you can handle this. You are equipped to succeed.

[NJBRONCOSFAN]

I got lucky...a few years ago before i really understood the importance of having good credit, i ran up some big bills...luckily my mom cared more than i and she helped me pay them off in a timely fashion...on more than once occasion.

I'm pretty lucky now because I have better credit than a lot of 30 year olds i know here at work.

But you're right, you really can't do much without a credit card...weird to say, but cash only goes so far.

[orangenblue420]

I understand your delemna, it does suck. However, it is the way of the world. Let me ask you, Do you have a checking acct. If so most banks give you a debit card with a VISA sticker. You can use it like a CC but it takes your money from checking. so you are not spending money you don't have. I know you think you have self control issues, but I think you can handle this. You are equipped to succeed.

Ahhh I know but with DC's i end up paying hundreds in OD fees a year - I am really really really bad with money - if I have a debit card with as much I am online - well lets just say its not pretty - I see something I really really want and think - well I'll make the money tonight yada yada and before I know it I am paying an extra $25 for whatever it is I just bought - I may have to break down but in all honesty the things I need a credit card for, a debit card wouldnt help much - ie renting cars and hotel rooms, and such

[SCI03]

Another solution could be one of those secured credit cards. Where you put down $500 and have $500 worth of credit. It would be an emergency account for Airfare, rentals or possibly a little emergency.

[michbroncofan]

I may have to break down but in all honesty the things I need a credit card for, a debit card wouldnt help much - ie renting cars and hotel rooms, and such

Just a thought. I have a debit card with the Mastercard logo on it. If it has a MC or Visa logo on it, it has to be accepted anywhere that takes those cards. I've already used mine to reserve hotel rooms for vacation this summer. I'll have it with me when we go, and keep most of my cash in the bank and just keep track of what's been spent as I go.

[Javalon]

I am so pissed - ya know you cant do a damn thing in this country anymore if you don’t have a credit card.......

You cant buy anything online - you cant get a hotel room, rent a car, get a plane ticket,

In my past life (my days with my ex) my credit got really screwed up - long story short it started off good, we both had jobs, finally, got a new car, for the first time, and all was ok and he up and quit his job and stayed unemployed for 8 months (main reason we moved to oklahomer) anywho - after coming here we struggled and couldnt catch up -car got repo’d, I eventually had to file bankruptcy - once he left I went back to school but paid for it via student loans and lived off those and really high interest credit cards - now that I work two jobs I no longer need or want a credit card OR debit card - they did nothing but cause me problems in the past and I have NO self control with them - I refuse to get a debit or credit card cause I figured if I don’t have the cash in my actual pocket - I don’t need it - it’s the only way to keep myself from getting into debt once again - but this country does not allow me to function like the rest of society cause I don’t have a credit card - now things I want to get that require one for “security purposes” I cant have - I do know that I have made my own bed but still if I give a person/company all the same information a credit card company has, whats the difference - in this day and age of fraud, whos to know that that credit card is really that persons anyways - its just not right

You're right, it sucks that you can't choose to not have one and still do everything you mentioned. I would suggest getting a credit card with a low credit limit, say about $500, and then stick it in a drawer at your house. That way, you don't have it with you when you're shopping so you can't be tempted with impulse purchases. But when you need to reserve a hotel room or make an airline reservation, you're already planning ahead so it isn't too inconvenient to wait until you get home and pull your card out of the drawer.

Just a thought. I have a debit card with the Mastercard logo on it. If it has a MC or Visa logo on it, it has to be accepted anywhere that takes those cards. I've already used mine to reserve hotel rooms for vacation this summer. I'll have it with me when we go, and keep most of my cash in the bank and just keep track of what's been spent as I go.

Yep, they are accepted just like credit cards and I think most banks don't charge fees to the card holder. They make their money off the retailers or whoever accepts the card. This is another good option except that it still doesn't seem like real money and can be just as tempting to use as a credit card.