Is it possible or even realistic to get through life without EVER having to use a credit card

[inthebrain]

Just asking.

Please give it some thought.

[Occam Bandage]

1. Yes. Of course.

Is it probable? No, not for most.

[parasim]

2. Well, I've been doing it for 5 years now.

So, yeah, it's possible.

[inthebrain]

23. Are you five years old?

The question was "go through life".

[parasim]

28. Ha... wondering if you'd ask that.

I meant "going through life from this point forward. Didn't think you were being that literal.

Anyway, yeah, I suppose it would make life a little more difficult, but I do believe that it is possible if you one plans well and only buys most things they can pay for outright.

I mean, i do have a car loan, but I didn't need a credit card for that.

But, yeah, I concede, for most it's probably not realistic in this day and age.

[XemaSab]

3. I've never had one

:shrug:

[eShirl]

12. me neither

[question everything]

31. If you are planning a trip and you need to make a reservation

at a hotel, you will need to provide them with a credit card. Of course, you can take your chances and just drop at the lobby.

And it'd better be a credit card, not a debit card. Hotels routinely "freeze" a larger amount than the stay. Since debit is tied to your checking account, it could drain your account without your knowledge, and any additional charge will result in overdraft fee.

[sandnsea]

34. No, you can simply pay for your room

Or use your debit card, and ASK THEM how much they're going to draw on your account. It's quite simple really.

[XemaSab]

36. My last trip

I was camping/sleeping in the car. :D

[parasim]

40. I've not any problems getting a hotel reservation with my debit card.

And they've always "freezed" the amount that I paid for the room. Once I had 130 dollars in my account, the room bill was 120 and I got the room no problem.

[Berry Cool]

117. I haven't had a credit card since about 1993

and I stay at hotels all the time. Never had a problem with a debit card. Even if the hotel "freezes" a larger amount than the stay, I know it won't be enough to drain my account.

[lildreamer316]

141. Me either.

I have a debit card, so I can make reservations and etc.

[katsy]

4. Once upon a time it was.

My parents, blue collar workers, were paid well enough to raise me & buy a modest home without ever resorting to credit cards.

They did have 2 store accounts, Sears being one and a clothing/general goods shop.

Most of their friends didn't buy what they couldn't afford either.

Those days of well-paying jobs for the middle class may well be behind us now.

[inthebrain]

6. Those 2 store accounts were not credit cards?

[katsy]

29. Yes. Of course they were.

They only used Sears for appliances or maintenance. Which wasn't very often.

The other was for special occasion clothes. Both were paid up asap as quickly as they could pay the balance.

They were credit cards, but not used in place of cash on a daily basis for necessities really.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Possible, but difficult

Credit cards surely make a lot of things easier - travel, renting cars, that sort of thing.

But sure - cash is still accepted most everywhere!

[inthebrain]

7. How about getting approved for an apartment?

Many landlords will not take tenants that do not have a positive credit history. They will not consider utility payments either.

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Yeah, that too.

Lots to consider...

[sandnsea]

18. That's a credit report - not credit card

Very different things.

[inthebrain]

22. They want to see a long term positive history of credit

with a major credit card.

many of them do not look at the score alone but what it that establishes that score. Utility bills alone do not count for much. They want to see a history of borrowing and paying back.

[sandnsea]

25. You can get credit without a credit card

Banks, credit unions, local department stores, student loan, all kinds of places. You do not have to have a credit card to rent an apartment.

[inthebrain]

30. Department store credit card?

Is that what you are talking about?

Student loans are a form of borrowing and spending. They are not as reliable given that they can be defered and those don't show up on a credit report. Well, I've deferred mine three times and it's not on any of my credit reports. I've checked all of em. When I was 24 I actually did try to get into an apartment with just the student loan and a history of utility bills. No way no how. Got denied and needed a cosigner. Given that I don't have contact with my parents it was a no go.

They wanted that history with a VISA, AMEX or Mastercard.

Banks will not give loans without a history with a major credit card. Many department stores will not approve you for credit without one either.

[sandnsea]

33. Oh for pete's sake - 3 year job & 750 credit

You've got an apartment. The End.

I certainly am not one of those blaming the consumer for the current financial fiasco. But trying to bamboozle people with this tired old credit story does not help anybody.

You do not have to have a major credit card to live. You just don't. And yes banks will give a loan without a major credit card. I've gotten them many times. They're called car loans. Yeesh.

[inthebrain]

62. I'd LOOOOOVE to see the predatory car loan you got

The interest on that sucker had to have been through the roof.

I've never secured a car loan in the North East without proving that I am in good standing with a major credit card. I'm talking one with a good interest rate through a bank. I've been to a few dealers around here that will not even allow you to fill out the loan application without one.

[sandnsea]

65. I haven't needed one in over ten years

My last car cost $4,000 and I paid cash. I can do that without credit card bills to pay.

No need to be an asshole.

Oh yeah, it's a 1998 Neon with 45,000 miles on it. I still have it, with 63,000 miles on it today. Still runs great and looks new.

[inthebrain]

74. My apologies

I wasn't trying to be an asshole initialy. Perhaps I misread the tone of your post.

My wife works in sales. She has to be able to get a car that no more than three years old. She often leases but in order to secure the lease (Honda dealership in this case) they wanted to see a major credit card.

I don't use mine at all anymore. Mine are all pretty much paid down. Didn't have a lot on them anyways. But having those open lines of credits did just get me my last car loan with a nice interest rate. I paid half of it with cash.

The lender that I went through required the major card. Most of em around here that don't look to fuck you over completely usually want to see one.

[CoffeeCat]

101. How can you be so sure that...

..."those open lines of credits" secured you your last car loan?

When I purchased my first and second cars--I had no credit cards. Just a steady job that I'd been in for
and a decent income. I got a great rate through a bank.

I think people are assuming that credit cards are opening doors--when those doors would probably be open
anyway.

[Berry Cool]

118. Correction: SOME landlords want to see that.

Not all of them care. Of course, you do take your risks with some of them; they may not be renting the nicest properties, or they may not rent to the nicest tenants. But it is possible to find a gem. I did.

[proud2BlibKansan]

70. You can have a credit history without having a credit card

I have applied for and received mortgages and car loans, no problem in spite of having no credit cards.

[bluestateguy]

8. I guess you could, but it's very inconvenient

For example, try buying airline tickets. You'd have to buy your tickets at a travel agency or at the airport.

Getting a membership at a video store usually requires a cc; barring that, you'd need a utility bill, or something like that.

Or buying a book on Amazon, or a download on iTunes. It can be done w/out a cc, but they won't make it easy for you.

[parasim]

21. I buy books on Amazon and music, movies on iTunes no problem.

I use my debit card.

[sandnsea]

26. Live on what we earn

What a concept.

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. I buy airline tickets. pay for hotel rooms, rent cars and download on iTunes without a credit card

It's not the least bit inconvenient to do all of those things with a debit card.

[scrappydo]

90. I buy airline tickets with my debit card....

...no interest, no extra cost. I have had many a car loan without a credit card history, I have rented cars without a credit card. It is called living within you means and it works like a charm. Do I have to wait to get things I would realy like? For sure...but when I pay for something, it is mine, not the credit card companies. no interest, no hidden fees, no small print........

[scrappydo]

91. and I buy my airline tickets on line.....

[inthebrain]

94. Except when you need a car loan......

People who use credit cards do so within their means as well.

Some use them for emegrencies only.

How is the use of a car loan any different than using a credit card? If we are talking "living within your means".

[Berry Cool]

121. I buy airline tickets from places like Travelocity all the time with a debit card!

I do every possible kind of online shopping with a debit card. I buy from iTunes with a debit card. I have gotten video store memberships with a debit card. And it's easy as pie.

Some of you assume way too much about the essentialness of credit cards!

[NYC_SKP]

9. Renting a car without one is challenging.

But I can't think of many other things that cannot be arranged for by other means; cash, bank check, credit card, travelers' cheques.

[napi21]

14. I don't think you CAN rent a car without a cc. That's the first thing they ask for.

I admit I've never tried, but I can't imagine any rental co. giving you the keys to a $20,000+ asset without any recourse if you don't return it!

[sandnsea]

17. Alamo lets you

or used to. You have to put up a $200 deposit, pay cash when you pick up the rental, it might be higher now. You can also reserve a hotel room, they just won't guarantee it the way they will if you have a credit card. I've had no need for a credit card for over 20 years.

[parasim]

20. Sure you can.

I rented one a couple of months ago, no problem. Just needed to have 250 dollars in my bank account and used my debit card.

[Lorien]

39. Or an Amex. That works too. But yeah, my mom has always gotten by

with her debit card alone, and she does a LOT of travel; both domestically and in Asia.

[proud2BlibKansan]

73. I have rented many cars with a debit card

[lildreamer316]

142. Are you kidding? I just did so in december for two weeks with a debit card!

Absolutely no problem.

[abluelady]

10. Only If You Live a Very Provincial Life. eom

[Bobbieo]

13. Guess I live a VERY Provencial life. Have one credit card that is used sparingly and paid up every

month it is used. I keep it for emergencies!!!

[abluelady]

27. But That's My Point

You have one and you use it sparingly. The question was could you live WITHOUT one? You're not living without one. Do you ever travel?

[sandnsea]

35. I Travel

You do not need a credit card.

[abluelady]

41. How Do You Order Tickets?

How do you rent cars? How do you hold hotel reservations? Wow, that's amazing!

[parasim]

43. You just make sure you have enough money in your bank account.

I've been doing it for awhile now.

[abluelady]

45. I'm Not Asking How You Pay

I'm asking how you get an airline to hold a ticket for you or a hotel to hold a room or a car rental company to hold a car.

[parasim]

55. All with my debit card.

As long as I have enough money in my bank account, there's never a problem. Only the rental car company has taken a deposit, which, last time I rented one, was 250 dollars. Even rented a U-Haul that way.

[jberryhill]

72. If the room is fully paid in advance, it will be held

I run a small business.

While I do use a personal credit card for some things, I've used the business debit card to reserve hotels. That said, maybe it is because I have preferred status in two large chains, but I use the debit card as often as the internet card for the fully pre-paid rate domestically and abroad.

[sandnsea]

44. Debit Card

It's really simple. I used to send cashier's checks overnight. I feel bad for people who have been so bamboozled into believing they had to have those stupid little cards.

[abluelady]

49. Credit Cards are Much Simpler

I pay my bill off at the end of the month. I have no interest payments. I don't have to run to banks constantly for cashier's checks. Those stupid little cards make my life much easier. I will never give them up. I also find that returning items to stores are much easier. Many stores won't give cash back easily; and when you pay by check, they will not give you cash back until at lest fourteen days because the check has to clear. I also started before debit cards were available, which makes a big difference.

[sandnsea]

52. And so? What's that got to do with the OP?

Nothing. Nobody is asking you to give up your cards. I don't care how you live your life.

The OP was whether you can live without a credit card. The answer is yes. That's all.

[abluelady]

54. You're Very Anti-Credit Cards

That is silly. Obviously, very few people can live without credit cards. If they could, we wouldn't be having this discussion. You must be very special.

[sandnsea]

57. No I'm not, I'm anti misinformation

People can easily live without credit cards. It's no big deal. People are just used to them, that's all.

No need to get huffy.

[inthebrain]

98. No one is giving misinformation

Some have stated here that they use them for emergencies.

Me, personally, I needed a credit card when I was first starting out in life. I moved into a group home at 14 and did not have any family support when I was just starting out in college at 19. I lived in a dorm at 19 and worked part time. Some weeks I didn't have enough money for food and starting the semester I didn't always have enough money to buy all the books and supplies I needed.

I had to use a credit card as I had no family support for money. All I had was my little 32 hour a week security job.

After living in the area for a while I found out is was much more affordable to rent than to live in a dorm. As I was apartment hunting every landlord I went through required a positive credit history with a major credit card. If you didn't have that, you needed a cosigner. I did not have contact with my parents so I would have never gotten a cosigner.

The credit card was REQUIRED in my circumstances.

As I am older and more settled into a job I don't find myseld using one at all. I still have two but the balances are zero.

I think you'll find that for many people they are a necasity. Expeciall those in lower income brackets that need to stretch the paycheck in some months. Especially now that it is more common place for employers to pay people bi weekly. Sometimes people need that extra jar of baby food, package of diapers or loaf of bread. Couple the biweekly check with the fact that pay has not kept up with inflation or cost of living.

Working in health care I bump into those people all the time. It's not even accurate to really say that those people are living above their means exactly. It's more likely that their needs have surpassed their means.

This is primarily why I asked this question. That, and the fact that there are still many places that require a credit history with a major credit card. Especially the landlords around where I live. Many of em want to make sure who there are renting to are not overextened in this area. Some of em are also just dicks.

[CoffeeCat]

63. I will never understand this attitude...

Many people, like yourself, are very defensive when it comes to credit cards.

You insist that most people MUST have them. It's simply not true.

We used to have a few credit cards and a couple of store cards. We paid them all off and the
feeling is exhilarating! This fueled our desire to go completely debt free--and we're working
toward it. We no longer have car payments, and we just refinanced to a 15-year mortgage that we
hope to pay off in 7-10 years.

I mean, the notion of KEEPING your entire paycheck makes me want to jump for joy.

I don't understand why people won't let go of the notion that you MUST have a credit
card to survive and that having one is absolutely essential. In my opinion, not only
is it unessential---it's behavior that is working against a person's self interest.

[jberryhill]

77. Oh I think most people can live without them...

I run a six-figure a year business without one.

It's difficult to live above your means without a credit card. And some things are difficult to do without a fair amount of cash to back it up.

But car rentals, hotels and flights can be done on debit cards. I know, because I often do them. I spend at least a month abroad every year, and at least a month traveling domestically.

If putting a Star Alliance Around The World fare on a debit card, along with five star hotels in Egypt, Thailand and Australia is "provincial", then I shudder to think what is "cosmopolitan".

Now - on that trip I did run into an excessive hold problem in Egypt, but quickly sorted it out with the management. Had a similar issue with a car rental in Brazil once as well.

[abluelady]

111. What is the Difference Between A Credit Card and Debit Card

If you're living within your means and paying it off every month. I will continue to disagree with you. Imagine in Egypt if you hadn't "quickly" sorted it out. It could have ruined your entire trip. Why not keep your life simple. Perhaps your attitude is provincial as opposed to cosmoplitan?

[high density]

119. Why put yourself in that position?

If you had given the car rental place or the hotel a credit card, they could've held $1000 and you probably wouldn't have even known it. I do not want to have to be screwing around with stuff like this when I am traveling.

[jberryhill]

132. I did not put myself into that position.

I had a ex-wife who was instrumental in my having been put in that position.

They call it the "Discover" card because one day you come home early, get the mail, discover you have one, discover it is over the limit, and discover it is six months overdue.

My credit had been absolutely trashed, and it took me the better part of a decade to get back.

With ubiquitous internet, you can always check the holds, and you keep a separate account for it. Necessity is a great teacher.

Even with holds on credit cards, you can bump up against the limit.

[grasswire]

136. I'll bet you're wrong.

I'm going to look for the stats on the percentage of Americans who have credit cards. I'll wager that 40 percent do not have them.

[grasswire]

137. I was wrong by 20 percent

CNN says that 80 percent of American families have at least one credit card. 46 percent carry a balance.

[inthebrain]

56. Nope, that not the question

It's whether you can go the full course of your life without one.

You're accusing me of trying to bamboozle people in an earlier response. You're not being bamaboozled by this question and clearly you misunderstood it.

[sandnsea]

58. I'm 51

:shrug:

Should I fall over dead to prove you can live the course of your life without a credit card?

I'm not accusing YOU of anything. I'm saying the credit card companies have bamboozled people into believing they need one, when they don't. I have plenty of cooberation in the thread.

[abluelady]

114. The Beauty of Life

is I can enjoy mine with a credit card and you can enjy yours withoug. Isn't America wonderful? :>)

[proud2BlibKansan]

76. And I do all of that with a debit card

[CoffeeCat]

53. Where are people getting this disinformation?

We just bought eight Coldplay tickets with our debit card. Why would anyone think they needed a credit
card to get tickets? I'm not getting this.

We've also rented cards in various cities--and we've booked hotels in Disneyland, Coco Beach, and other assorted
cities. All with a debit card.

Yeah, we've rented cars too.

I have yet to hear ONE good reason to have a credit card--that is true.

I'd love to hear one.

[inthebrain]

60. Actually, you're Debit card kinda is a credit card

Not in the true sense of the traditional word. It does have a little Visa or Mastercard symbol on it.

So in a sense, you are using a credit card. Although you don't get hit with interest and the overdraft protection does require positive credit.

I've offered a few reasons on this thread. There are landlords that require them when doing a credit check. Some require tham along with a security deposit to pay for damages by the tenant.

There are also rental car companies that require them as well.

[sandnsea]

61. All debunked

And only a fool would authorize a landlord to stick damages on a credit card.

[inthebrain]

66. Or one who really doesn't have many choices

And that's a lot of areas in the country where the rental markets are tight.

And saying "all debunked" doesn't really mean you've debunked anything.

[proud2BlibKansan]

79. Yes it has been debunked

Several of us have reported getting through life just fine WITHOUT credit cards.

[inthebrain]

93. You mean SOME not all

Everyone has different circmstances at play in their life.

The area where you live also matters as well.

Sorry, but nothing has been debunked here. And it's awfully hard to debunk anything with an anecdote which this thread is asking.

[proud2BlibKansan]

107. Hello?

We live without credit cards. Easily. WOuld you want us to post our credit histories as proof or what?

Good grief.

[CoffeeCat]

64. A debit card is NOT a credit card..

The money instantly taken out of our account. It's like paying cash or writing a check.

When you pay with a credit card---you are not paying for the item. You are BORROWING MONEY WITH INTEREST to finance
your purchases.

The two are completely different, especially when it comes to this discussion.

[inthebrain]

67. I know

I think I addressed everything you just said in my post.

[CoffeeCat]

69. You said, "A debit card is kinda like a credit card"...

...and I think that's a ludicrious statement.

It's offensive--especially to those of us who would never be caught dead
paying 25 percent interest for sweaters from The Gap and cocktails at Applebees.

Cash is like a debit card.

A debit card is NOT kinda like a credit card. Sorry.

[inthebrain]

78. Ever hear of OVERDRAFT!!!

You go over your balance with a Debit card the bank will screw you with fees.

In that case it is simialar to a credit card. That is if you don't have overdraft protection.

So yeah, it is "kinda" like a credit card.

[Prism]

83. Well, it's the same with checks

Checks aren't really credit cards either, but believe you me, you write an overdraft with one, and the bank will nail you to the floor.

[high density]

124. You're right

Because when your debit card number gets stolen and your bank account is drained, you're up a creek without a paddle until your bank sorts it out. When your credit card is stolen and you call up the bank to tell them of the fraudulent charges you're liable for $0. You're right, a debit card is not a credit card.

(And you do not have to borrow money with interest to use a credit card.)

[CoffeeCat]

138. Using extreme circumstances...

...to justify the rampant excess of spending in this country, are we?

I am astounded that on a PROGRESSIVE site, there are so many people who will fight
tooth and nail to justify and rationalize the use of credit cards.

I'm not talking about the people who make purchases and then pay the card off in full every
month. Most credit-card holders use credit cards as an extension of their income. They
can't afford the things that they buy on credit cards, but they buy them anyway---and then
find themselves cash poor and in huge debt.

This behavior is what has left so many people vulnerable in this economy. Everyone owes
so much on credit cards and mortgages, and there's no wiggle room. No one can save because
they owe so much debt.

As for the card being stolen--all debit cards allow you to write "See ID" on the back. That requires
the merchant to see identification before the card is used. That's how we use our debit cards. Plus,
someone would have to know your PIN if they wanted to use it as a debit card.

I've never had any money stolen with a debit card. I certainly wouldn't run out and get a credit card--and
run myself into debt and expose myself to horrendous risk (interest-rate increases, unfair late fees, etc)
just because I'm afraid someone might steal my debit card. Sheesh.

Justify this all you want...I'll continue to be amazed that there are people who go to extreme lengths
to justify the reckless behavior that is bankrupting our nation and destroying families.

[Bluenorthwest]

112. This is correct

All those folks talking about debit cards are using not classic ATM cards, which are still available, by the way. They are using 'Visa' or 'Mastercard' products.
So like if I buy a ticket on a Visa Credit card and get tons of miles for that, then go to the bank website and pay for the ticket, I have done the same thing done by a person using a Visa Debit card, paid the same, and also got all those miles.
It amuses me that people here are focused on the instrument of payment rather than the timing of that payment. When matters. How, not so much.

[Berry Cool]

125. I bought HANNAH MONTANA tickets with MY debit card!

(and no, not for me...for my nieces and their mom)

Had to get them from StubHub, but it worked. What the hell. I will probably never have kids of my own, and someone's going to have to care about me when I get old. I joked to my sister "This isn't ridiculously overpriced concert tickets I'm buying, it's a guarantee that if they ever decide to put me in a nursing home, it will be a nice one."

[CoffeeCat]

51. We travel...

We booked rooms at Disneyland with our debit card, rented a car and did everything else without a credit card.

Who are these people who think you NEED a credit card?

This is not true!

We travel all over, and have booked hotels all over the place with our debit card.

I wonder where these misnomers come from? The credit card companies?

[jberryhill]

84. The Certitude With Which This Nonsense Is Asserted Is Astounding

I travel a LOT with a debit card.

[inthebrain]

100. It's not all nonsense

I am sure they are some hotels that will allow you to secure a room with a debit card. There are also hotels that won't accept them to secure a room. Last time I worked in the hotels was about 10 years ago. Everyone I worked at required a credit card regardless of whether you were able to pay the full cost of the room. A lot of that was for identity purposes as the hotels her keep and share logs of problematic guests.

It was also to bill any damages to the room just in case.

Things may be different now with some of em but last I checked in some of the places I used to work the policey is the same. Only one of em that I know of allows Debits and they are always booked.

[proud2BlibKansan]

108. I travel all over the US and have NEVER been refused a room at any hotel

because I don't have a credit card.

I am sitting in a hotel room right now I paid for with a debit card.

Oh wait, maybe I am imagining all of this since you say it's impossible. :crazy:

[jberryhill]

131. "Some" hotels

Like Starwood (Westin), Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton...

[Lorien]

37. So all those trips to Europe I used to take were part of a Provincial life?

and the Hollywood awards shows which took place across the country from my home? And the Broadway shows and autumns in those Vermont B8Bs?

You can live the very same life anyone else lives without credit cards. A debit card and an Amex green card (you pay it off every month-there is no interest rate) will cover anything and everything.

[CoffeeCat]

47. In my opinion...

...a "provincial" life is being owned by the man, and watching a good chunk of your paycheck fly out
the window and into the hands of Mastercard and Bank of America.

What's so "provincial" about living on your income and keeping most of your paycheck?

What's so darn smart and progressive about paying 25 percent interest for dinners at Chili's,
and clothes from the mall?

Provincial? I think you've got it backwards.

[abluelady]

123. I don't Pay Interest

I live within my means and use a credit card for convenience. Why is keeping life simple wrong? I must be missing something here.

[CoffeeCat]

139. Congratulations...

...you are in the tiny minority of credit-card holders who pay off their balances every month.

The vast majority of credit-card holders do not do this. They use the cards to buy things that
they otherwise cannot afford.

This collective behavior has left families vulnerable.

Edited to add this information: I guess it's around 20 percent--that's the number of people who pay off their balances or only
use the card in emergencies--according to this article about GE Capital.

"One way (to recoup money from people who pay off balances every month) is to begin charging customers who pay their balances in full or who leave their cards in a sock drawer.

About 20 percent of GE Capital Corp.'s GE Rewards MasterCard holders fit that description. GE Capital informed those card holders by mail last week that it would begin charging them $25 per year if they don't carry a balance."


See....they'll get you one way or another. This is not a game to them. They WILL get your money, one way or the other.

[lildreamer316]

143. Why, thank you...I guess. WTF?

Husband is a gentleman's club dj, I am a stay at home mom. I have a decent closet full of clothes (not great,but passable); 2 cars, house, etc.
Oh, and a hot tub.
Provincial?

And..no credit card. Ever.

[eShirl]

11. debit card. n/t

[rpannier]

16. Depends on where you live and what you do for a living

I live and work overseas and it is NOT possible for me to live without a credit card.

[Kali]

19. sure, but it would be VERY difficult to travel internationally without one

paying cash for plane tickets - don't know if they would even allow it anymore, renting a car is pretty much impossible without one. It can be done but not easily. But if you don't plan to do that or to do it in any remotly conventional way, I think you can get by without one just fine. And if you are still willing to use a credit card logo-ed debit card then even that is doable. Car rentals will want a bond/deposit but I know several companies will take them.

[jberryhill]

82. Did an entire trip around the planet with a debit card

PHL-FRA-CAI-BKK-SYD-LAX-PHL over the course of one month, with hotels and a car rental in Australia.

No problem.

[Kali]

89. I think I may have misunderstood the post a bit

you should be able to do anything with a debit card that you can do with a credit card if you have the funds and it has a visa or mc logo. (although I have encountered a few instances where places wouldn't/couldn't take the debit card and rather than argue I just used the credit card)

I thought maybe the OP was interested in living without any kind of plastic - just a cash based life.

[jberryhill]

96. A Debit Card Is A Cash-Based Life

Circumstances relating to a prior marriage forced me to live a cash-based life, and even start my own business with zero credit.

Elsewhere in this thread, the OP doesn't think it is possible to reserve a hotel room without one.

In reality, the room will be held, and there will be a hold for anticipated expenses at check-in, but I don't know where he is getting his information. Same for car rentals.

It DOES require that one have cash to back it up.

What's weird is leaving for foreign trips and not even knowing if you have more than $20 in your wallet. Sometime, I'm sure I'll get burned by an ATM network outage, but I like the security of not having physical cash on me. (although "express kidnappings", where they take you to ATM's and force you to withdraw cash, are the popular thing now)

[Kali]

120. clearly you don't have much experience with paranoid conspiracy types

:rofl:

I know a few people that won't use any kind of plastic because they feel their privacy is important. Actually I can appreciate the sentiment - everything purchased is in some database somewhere. My strategy is to be really random and bizarre in my purchases.

[parasim]

97. Well, "having the funds" is basically a "cash based life", is it not?

I have no idea why having a visa or mastercard logo makes any difference, but if I use a debit card, it basically tells the storeowner, restaurant, hotel, whatever, that I could find an ATM someplace and take out the money to pay for the whatever-it-is, but this piece of plastic just makes that easier. But using a credit card means that I can buy something that I don't have the money for, but will pay it off over time. You know... credit.

I guess I just don't understand the confusion.

[Kali]

122. see my reply above

some people don't like leaving a record of their purchases - there is still a difference between CASH and plastic. And there are still places in the world where they don't take plastic and there are no machines. Getting harder and harder to find, unfortunately.

[LoZoccolo]

24. The biggest problem might be getting a bigger loan after you haven't established credit.

You might have trouble getting a mortgage, for instance, if you don't have any record of oweing money and reliably paying it back. But then again, you can skip the mortgage too.

[CoffeeCat]

59. We bought our first home...

...and got a mortgage when we didn't have any credit-card payments in our credit history.

We had solid work histories, and steady incomes at the same jobs for years. Plus, we
had credit histories with utilities and student loans.

Our mortgage broker told us that we were dream clients--because our debt load was so low.
She even said that she tells all clients, if they want to purchase a home but they need to
finance a car---buy the home first. Having more debt on your books makes you look riskier.

That's been our experience anyway.

[quaker bill]

133. If you have the down payment

verified income and a good pile of additional assets, getting the loan will never be a problem. I just kept pulling out account statements until the loan officer said enough...

Of course, not paying 18+ percent interest on everything I buy makes piling up assets very much easier

[Lorien]

32. It's very easy. Use a debit card and an AmEx green card

covers everything you need. I tried owning a cc for three years once; what a ripoff! Never have used one since.

[Cleita]

38. Nope, I really tried, but when my uncle died in Arizona in a small out of

the way place that could only be reached by car, I found out that one must have a credit card. I was able to pay for my air fare with cash, but no amount of money I could throw at the car rental people, nor promising to sign a paper to the effect that they could own everything I owned if I didn't return with the car would make them relent. I was about to go out on the Hwy. and hitchhike when one of my cousins arrived at the counter with a credit card and I was able to get a ride with him. After that I was able to get a department store charge card, which opened the way for me to get a credit card. I have never been without one since then.

[Berry Cool]

126. You could have rented a car with a debit card too.

You didn't need a credit card. Honest.

[Cleita]

134. This was in 1975. There was no such animal as a debit card, however,

that would be an option for today.

[CoffeeCat]

42. We cut up all credit cards seven years ago...

...and all I can say is, "Free at last...free at last...free at LAST!!!"

Not only did we pay off our credit cards, we paid off our cars and have no car payments. However, we put money
into an ING account as if we do have a car payment. Then, when we need a car, we pay cash. We get wicked-awesome
deals.

Most of the reasons that people give for owning a credit card are either lies perpetuated by the credit-card
industry or untruths.

For instance, people think that if you don't have a credit card, that you have bad credit or low credit---and
therefore you can't qualify for a mortgage or get other loans. Balderdash. We had no credit cards or car
payments when we bought our house--and got the best rates out there. We were actually viewed favorably, because
we didn't have debt.

People also think you can't rent cars or make hotel reservations. We use our debit card for hotel reservations, car
rentals and all kinds of other online shopping, etc.

I remember what our life was like when we sat down to do the bills---and we owed money on a couple of credit cards, a couple
of retail cards, car payments etc. It was HELL. Now, when we get our paycheck--we keep the money. We're not sending
it away to Mastercard, Bank of America and GMAC.

I'm done trying to convince people that no credit cards and little debt is the way to go. People get pretty defensive,
so I'll just say that every family has to make these highly personal decisions for themselves. Whatever works for you
is cool...and to each his own.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

46. had debit cards where money comes out of bank account

[cliffordu]

48. I've been doing it for the last 8 years.

Piece of cake.

[donco6]

50. Difficult, and getting more so.

But not impossible.

It sure makes things easier, tho.

[proud2BlibKansan]

68. Yes I have been doing it for over 25 years

It's possible. :)

[Uzybone]

75. Of course it is

Credit cards are a luxury that some have been trained to see as a neccesity.

[Seen the light]

80. 23, never used one n/t

[Prism]

81. paypal and debit cards have made it possible

I don't have a credit card, and I engage in a lot of online commerce, travel, etc. Two innovations make it possible.

Debit cards - Fairly straightforward. While some posters above complain about hotels and deposits - that's exactly what a hotel is asking for, a deposit. A line of credit is as good as a deposit to them. However, if you've not a credit card, you can ask them how much of a deposit is required (usually around the cost of a night). When you check out, they give you it back. Nearly every single instance from hotels to rental cars, etc. that ask for a credit card on file are usually asking for a deposit, and in the fine print they will tell you how much cash is needed up front if you do not have one.

Paypal - Paypal now has a tool that allows you to generate a single-use credit card number to make purchases. I often use it when buying things online. It feels more secure to me.

I've been credit card free since college and do not miss them in the slightest.

The one downside to this is, of course, emergencies. If you have an emergency and don't have the money, you could very well be screwn. I've not bumped into this, but there are plenty of stories out there of people who needed quick cash for reasons not their fault and had the card or a company willing to temporarily raise their limit.

So, I suppose not having one is like wandering through life without a kind of insurance.

[NYC_SKP]

85. This OP is sooooo NOT "General Discussion: Presidential"...... :-)

:P

[scrappydo]

86. I have never had a credit card....

....if I cannot afford something, I do not get it! I have a friend whio is thousands of dollars in debt becasue of one credit card. Better her, than me.

[SeattleGirl]

87. I haven't had a credit card in about 5-6 years. I used my debit card.

The only snag (and it wasn't really a problem) I've hit was when I rent a car, the rental agency holds an extra $200 or $300 (can't remember which) until the car is returned. Otherwise, I've not had a problem not having a credit card.

But then, knock on wood, I haven't had any huge sudden expenses either. I know that some people have a credit card stashed away for just that purpose, and use cash/debit in the meantime.

[Undercurrent]

88. I lived for most of my life without credit cards,

but finally got one when I moved to be near my dad to care for him. Now I have a Sears card for emergencies only. If I need to repair the well pump, or buy a new washing machine I may use the card, or not. Depending on my cash flow.

Other than that I owe nothing. House and 5 acres are paid off, as is my truck. I've traveled, paid for motel rooms, rented U-hauls (with a deposit), and buy online using my debit card without any difficulty.

I also have a micro business, and not having a credit card hasn't been a problem.

[pansypoo53219]

92. my grandpa did, but

he was excellent w/ money.

[vaberella]

95. Not in the US. In order to buy a home or a car....

or the things that denote "American arrival" you need to have built a credit history. Note, now everything is done through a FICO score. You need the credit card to do that.

[parasim]

99. I got a car loan without a credit card. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

109. So did I.

Several car loans.

[onetwo]

103. You can get a credit card and develop a positive history without ever carrying a balance.

Just sayin'.

Scoring models actually penalize you for carrying balances. You are less of a credit risk if you are creditworthy enough to have cerdit cards but have no real debt obligations.

So, get a card and put your gas on it once in a while -- and pay it off before the statement closing date. Assuming no annual fee and a grace period, the credit card will be 100% free to use. You will also likely notice an odd phenomenon (depending on the issuer) -- unsolicited credit line increases, lowered APRs, and some VERY enticing offers in the mail.

[onetwo]

102. Guess what? You can get a credit card and build up positive credit without using it once...

...and you certainly don't have to carry a balance. Every month without a late payment is a positive notch in your belt regardless of usage.

Another shocker -- your creditworthiness goes up as your balances go down. Do you want to know the quickest way to kill your credit score and get your interest rates jacked across the board? Start carrying large revolving credit balances. On the other hand, combine a long credit history (with aged OPEN accounts) with little to no actual credit usage, and watch your mailbox fill up with some of the most delicious offers the industry can create. Is there ANY other financial product on Earth that allows you to borrow five-to-six figure dollar amounts completely interest-free and completely UNSECURED?

Played correctly, anyone can legally milk the major issuers for thousands of dollars and other rewards. It does require actual discipline, though.

Despite what some seem to believe about the banks, the major issuers CANNOT force you to carry a balance or charge more than you can reasonably pay off during a single billing cycle. Theoretically, a bank could jack your APR to 1000%, but if you don't carry a balance, in the majority of cases you pay ZERO INTEREST. Today, you can have sterling credit and a long, positive credit card history without giving any bank a single dime for anything. So, if you have to pay for a hotel or rent a car with a card, make sure to have the cash at the ready to pay off the charge as soon as it hits and you're good. Easy to do online; some banks even let you do it right on your phone.

[Iggo]

104. I'm 47...

...I've lived and worked in SoCal my whole life, and I've never had a credit card.

[old mark]

105. Yes. We have debit/credit cards linked to our Credit Union accounts,

and 1 store credit card to Lowes for mainly house and gardening stuff, but no "real" credit cards. We have not used a "real" credit card for about 4 years. I wanted to retire early and not have to worry about the debt, so we started paying them all off and cancelled them all at that time.

I still have debts without them, but I am very happy they are gone, and don't miss them at all. No credit cards translates to several hundred dollars more cash every month for us. Our credit rating is great, we just never use it.

mark

ADDED: The idea that you NEED an credit card is marketing bullshit by the credit corps - you really don't - not at all, not ever.

[polichick]

106. Not if you plan to buy a car over time or get a mortgage...

imo the point of having a credit card is to establish a good credit history for those other things.

[proud2BlibKansan]

110. I have had a couple mortgages and numerous car loans and I don't have credit cards

[Z_I_Peevey]

113. More than a half century of living with no credit card ever,

and I've gotten one home mortgage, several car loans, owned and operated three small businesses, purchased airline tickets, rented cars, etc.

As many on this thread have noted, the key is living within one's means, low or no debt, and having enough cash to handle "life's little emergencies." I'm only just now finding that I have a need for a debit card. I can't imagine I'll ever develop a need for a credit card.

[Frumious B]

115. Of course it's possible just as it is possible to get by without a number of conveniences.

However, the most important advantage that credit cards still have over debit cards is in fraud protection. Even if you are complete dumbass with your credit card number the most you can be held liable for under Federal law if there is fraud on your account is $50.00. With debit cards you don't have the same Federal protections. It's down to the individual policies of whatever bank issued the card if there is fraud. Also, keep in mind that while you're trying to untangle the mess you might be racking up overdraft charges due to the missing money from your account. The bank might put the money back in your account eventually, but they might not clear all those overdraft fees. You're at their mercy. It doesn't even necessarily have to be fraud that screws you. It could just be a cashier error somewhere that still has manual credit card terminals where you didn't look at your receipt carefully enough to notice a number that got double punched or an extra zero.

You can avoid all that by simply having one or two (but no more than two) credit cards that you pay in full every month. That way you get a statement to look over and if there are items you need to dispute then you dispute them and you are never out that money.

[Berry Cool]

127. I have never had these kinds of problems.

I think you worry about them too much. Get a MasterCard or Visa debit card and they take good care of you.

I lost my debit card once on a trip. Fearing it might be or have been stolen, I called and had it canceled right away so no one could clean me out. Got a new card quickly. My vacation could have been ruined had I not had enough cash to get by on regardless, or had my hotel not been prepaid, but the same thing could have happened had I been dependent on a credit card, and I could have remedied the situation with travelers' checks alone.

The biggest problem was in the fact that I had certain automatic payments set up with that card, so that the next time the auto-payment would try to go through, of course it would not go through, and I'd get a notice that it had been rejected. My advice would be that if you have to cancel a debit card you are using that you've set up for automatic payment of any bill--whether because you're changing banks or your card got stolen or whatever--be sure to change the card number and expiration date on the automatic payment system the second you get your new card, so that your automatic payments aren't interrupted. Or, if you can set up the payments to come directly out of your checking or savings account, do that instead--you won't be as vulnerable to getting "auto-payment bounces" just because you replaced a lost debit card.

[Frumious B]

140. I know a couple of people who had their Visa Check card numbers compromised.

They got their money back eventually, but I don't think they were able to get credit for all of the overdraft fees. I'm not saying that fraud is any more or less likely with a debit than it is with a credit card, but with a credit card you have two extra layers of protection: 1. You are protected by Federal law. 2. You are protected in that the money doesn't come straight out of your account. You get to review your statement and look for bad charges before you pay. I do pay all of my bills online, but I don't have anything set up to pay automatically because I believe in looking at my bills to make sure they are right before I pay them. I'm not giving anyone the keys to my checking account.

I also think it's a good idea to have two cards available for the precise reason that if you have trouble and are unable to use one card then you have a backup ready to go. I had some issues with one of my cards last year about two days before I left for my honeymoon. Fortunately I carry two cards so I was able to just use the other card for the duration of my trip and I was able to get a replacement card with a new number when I got home.

Like a lot of things to which we have access, there is not a damned thing wrong with credit cards as long as they are used responsibly.

[friedgreentomatoes]

116. Strictly speaking, it is possible.

I never had one until I was almost 28yrs old.
however, how would you have netflix free trial without it?
Moreover, for the past 4yrs that I have had my credit card, rarely if ever I have really used the "credit" option. I mean, I use it only because I don't wanna carry cash, and its convenient. I use it more like a debit card.

[Berry Cool]

128. I imagine I could get Netflix free trial the way I get most things online

By signing up with my debit card.

[madmom]

129. My parents never had a credit card until they retired. Kind of telling, IMO.

[mdmc]

130. I did ok for a number of years

until I needed to rent a car in LV. Then I needed to get a credit card..

[LiberalFighter]

135. Credit Cards are a form of loans. So if you ever need a mortgage, buy a home or go to school.

No.

Otherwise, yes.

For me, I still have a mortgage to pay off. Have a debit card instead of credit card. Pay most if not all expenses with it and don't need much cash on me.

[WinkyDink]

144. Yes. My 84-yr-old mother has never had one. Buys cars with cash, e.g.

[friedgreentomatoes]

145. I think the question has been a bit confusing.

Many of us here (atleast I did ) answered that it would be inconvenient while keeping the "paper v plastic" advantage/concept in mind and not the "spend what you have/ spend your future salary" concept. I have a debit card which I hardly use. I don't know why. I mostly use my credit card. But so far, I have had unpaid balance in ONE cycle in four years. Once. That too is because I am a grad student and had to go to my home country twice in a period of 6 months and each ticket costs what I earn in a month. Could I have waited for a paycheck or two to get in and then bought the ticket? Sure, but then I would have paid $400 (or about 25%) more. That decision wasn't hard to make.

Bottom line is I use my credit card pretty much like my debit card, with the money being taken from in one bulk payment once a month rather then every time I buy something. I have been taught to live within my means and even though the credit line of all of my credit cards add almost up to my annual salary, I only spend what I can afford.

So, to answer the OP question, It is possible, yes, but only if you have another form of plastic, i.e., a debit card.