Can we live without credit cards?

If everyone would just live within their means, then no one needs to obtain credit. It is a human weakness to have insatiable wants. Humans are DOOMED MUWHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I'm sure it's possible, it's just our society is so dependent on them. I recently (about a month and some now) got a credit card because I need to build up credit, and now that I have one I can see how easy it is to get used to them, depend on them so much when we don't have. But I went for 23 years without a card, just a checking/debit account. I've always been very turned off by credit cards, since I saw from my teens how badly it messed some my older cousins up. But now that I'm getting into an age where I want to purchase my own car, maybe an apartment, things of that nature - I need credit. So it's like, unless we pay with cash for every single thing, we're forced to own a credit card because we all need credit. It starts to feel like a huge mouse trap with a nice, large wad of yellow cheese on it.. just waiting for us to take the bait and get caught in the mess a credit card can produce.

I don´t have a credit card, I don´t like it and can live without them very well, besides here they are not so popular like in USA.

Before I was planning to open a credit card for myself...but after I read all the terms and conditions...I decide not to...I'm simply worried that I might be able to pay my debts...I'm not quite sure how to control myself from spending the money that I don't have.

I don't have a savings account right now, because we had to use a lot of our savings to be able to move across the country. But even though we have a credit card, we pay off the entire balance every month. We have also started using the credit card a lot less, only putting bigger purchases on it, and only when we know we will be able to pay them off. Unfortunately, saving is difficult right now, as we have a higher cost of living and only one income, but we have been working on our budget, and I hope that next month we will be able to stick to it. Also, my fiance will probably be getting a job soon, and that will help a little as well. At any rate, we definitely have no desire to live on more borrowed money than we already have to. It's bad enough that we are paying off my car, and that we will have student loans to repay in a few years!

I use a credit card as an alternative o carrying cash around and to build a good credit history. Thr truth is that credit cards can be as asset as long as you don't abuse them. For example, if you use a credit card just to borrow money to pay for things that you can't afford, yo are using a credit cared for te wrong reason. Since they take no collateral, the ineterest rates for credits cards are alarmingly high. Howvere, if you use it for cash that you do have on hand, i is an asset and saves you money. For instance, it defers your payment to later (about a month or so) so that money in your bank account is still collecting interest. In addition, i get 2-3% back on my purcheses which over time really adds up. IN short, I am getting a discount on everything I buy. Yes, you can ruin your credit if you are not careful, but it s beefitial if used right. In response to tmlnmr, hwat you are using sounds more like a debit card than a credit card, which is exactly what "prepaid credit cards" are, debit cards!

i dont think we could if we tried i use a prepaid credit card www.eufora.com

I am only 20, and before college loans, I am $2500 in debt. Hopefully I will get them all paid off. I already have one credit card that has been turned off.

Of course you can live without credit cards....We do..We've not had C.Cds in about 4 yrs now and as much as they were handy to have I really dont miss them at all...of course I'd never had C.Cds before meeting my husband so its not a big deal for me in the slightest....We've considered getting a secure card but figure there really isnt any point ya know....between cash, debit cards, my bank card and cheques a C.C isnt needed as far as I'm concerned

I do use my credit card for online purchases, but I pay it off every month. I hate being in debt, as it is always because I have bought things that I don't really need. At the moment I try to save at least £50 a month some months it can be as much as £300 depending on whether I have worked and what expenses have come up. I always try to spend as little as possible as I want to save up for things rather than having to borrow money and pay back loads more than the original item cost.

there is a tv show that is called 'til debt do us part' and every week it is amazing how many couples over extend themselves whether to compete with others or if they figure that they 'need' certain things...the counsellor on the show starts off by putting their credit cards on ice - literally...by putting them in the freezer! we are struggling to pay off debts because hubby was off for a long while and now he is making much less than he was before...but we hardly ever use our cards...when paying for stuff online, i use paypal

Nope, I am debt free and hope to stay that way. I use one credit card for everything possible and pay off the balance every month. I only use it because of the rewards. I can't say that I will not live on borrowed money again, I can only hope that I never need to.

At one point in my life I had 13 credit cards. I found that most of my money was going to interest. I've since consolidated all those cards and paid them off. Now I have one card for online purchases. I also make sure they are paid each month so I don't have all those fees. I got those cards to build my credit, in reality I was destroying my credit. Live and learn!

yup, I've been disciplining myself with this credit card for the last couple years. My hubby still a little bit out of control...i'm so strict with the budget...and sometime my hubby kind of underestimate that "relax we have cards for emergency"...yeah? and we gotta return the money everymonth plus interest. My sister in law really good with managing money though, i learn from her a lot! MASTER your CREDIT CARD don't let the card MASTER YOU.

You're definitely right. I don't have a credit card because I know what they can do to a person who got one. And there are people I've met who gets sck with the credit card issue. I think, it will only ruin your life especially for those who are not rich or don't know how to handle oneself by using a credit card. It does help to some people but let's face it, the disadvantages of using it are more than the advantages.

We can live without credit card, we just need to curb our spending and live on less than we make. I have a lot of credit card debt because I do not have a emergency fund so when there is a problem I pull out the credit card. Like you I lost a good paying job and my income is really low so I am struggling to meet my bills. When I finish paying off all the credit card bill, I wont be charging anything else. I am working on a emergency fund so I do not have to touch my credit cards.

I'm not obsessed with spending money because as of now I can't even figure out what I want most and if they are really worth the money. I've only got a credit card a few weeks ago to pay for gas. This is because I'm only 18. Other than school-related things and paying for gas, I don't exactly use the credit card for any other purpose. I think we all really can live without credit cards, but the thing is, I guess, credit cards are more convenient and that people like the idea of not having to directly pay immediately or out of their pockets.

Hi there, Off course we can live without credit cards, look Im living proof, I have never owned nor do i want too own a credit card... I suppose if you do own one, its all about discipline and responsibility really in it...

Its because it really help a lot when you have it, You dont have to ask someone to lend some money, you can easily use your credit card if you have it when you are totally broke. and besides, i think its a part of our necessity now adays. Its really hard to save money this days because of our economy.

i totally agree... i stay away from credit cards...im one of those people who are called impulsive shoppers...sooo whenever i want something.. i have no choice but wait until its payday or save for it...boring and old fashioned me.. lol.