Question of the Day,Friday, April 11

Winchester

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Good morning and Happy Friday!


What's in your wallet: credit card, debit card, checks, or cash? Which do you use?

We only keep two credit cards. One has a very low balance and that's the one that I use online for purchases, room reservations, and such. We purposely keep the balance low on that card. For the most part, we still write checks....or rather, I should say that dear Richard still writes checks as he's the finance guru in the family. I am not allowed anywhere near the checkbook; it's a family rule. (I transpose numbers in the check register, I forget to write the checks in the register....let's just say that I don't do what I'm supposed to do. And then it's a mess trying to balance it all out with the bank statement. As long as I stay away from the checkbook, Rick can balance things out fairly quickly with Quicken. We use cash whenever we can (for groceries, store purchases and the like), but we use checks to pay bills. 
 

di and bob

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I have two credit cards too, one for online, one for regular. I use checks for almost everything else. I've had too many people get their accounts broken into with debit card usage and it scares me. My credit card company called me one Sunday and asked if I was trying to purchase something several states away, they cancelled my card and issued me another, what service! We pay cash for eating out, small purchases, etc.
 

denice

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I have two credit cards, one I have some automatic monthly things that go on it and I pay it off every month.  The other one is a back up for my emergency fund.  I use it occasionally for something like gas to keep it active.

I pay all bills online and use my debit card, I have been fortunate and haven't had problems yet.  I do only use my home computer for bill paying and it is well protected.  I write one check a month for my rent.  I would pay it online if they had it set up to do it.  I keep very little cash.  I will get $20 back when I do my regular weekly grocery shopping and I usually have a little left over the next week.  I only use that for the occasional Starbucks drink.  Since I work from home there is no vending machine temptation.
 

peaches08

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Checks for some bills, online payment for other household bills, debit or cash for groceries and such.  I don't have a credit card, although I hope this summer to get one again to rebuild my credit (bankruptcy in 2009).
 

jcat

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Personal checks no longer exist here. I usually carry cash and a debit card; the credit card is at home unless I'm traveling.
 

fhicat

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Mine has a debit card and bills; I despise coins. All my coins are in a coin dispenser at home for laundry and parking meters. I only write checks for rent; almost all my transactions use the debit card.
 

Willowy

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I have. . .5? credit cards. When I first got credit I thought it would be fun to have one of each (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover), and then I thought I was upgrading my Mastercard but it turned out to be a whole new card so now I have 2 MC. I thought about canceling one but the one I would cancel is the one I've had the longest so that would make my credit score go down.

I only use one of the cards (a MasterCard) on a regular basis, although now that Costco opened I have been using my AmEx :tongue2:. I use the others once or twice a year so they don't get canceled for non-use. I do not carry a balance on any of them.

I have a debit card but mostly only use it for ATM transactions (not very often). My bank says that if a debit card gets compromised, your checking account could be tied up for a while before they get it cleared up, so I don't feel comfortable using the debit card too often, and definitely not online.

I only write a few checks every month---mortgage, utilities, credit card bill. I also try to use checks (or cash if I have it) for privately-owned businesses like the vet, to save them from paying credit card processing fees.

I don't carry much cash if any. I haven't had any cash in my wallet for about a month. Dave Ramsey said that people spend less if they use cash, so I tried it for a few months. . .I didn't spend less and I was constantly terrified of losing the cash. So forget that. I don't have a problem controlling my spending whether it's cash or card.

My main credit card was just compromised; somebody bought $6000 worth of plane tickets with my number :eek:. But Citibank called me, e-mailed me, removed the charges very quickly and FedExed me a new card overnight. I hope they find who did it so they aren't out any money :/. But I guess that's what a credit card company has to deal with pretty regularly.
 
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larussa

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I don't keep anything in my wallet except cash.  I have a card holder for credit cards, I have only one.  I also have my Medical Insurance card, SS card and bank cards in this holder.  Also driver's license and registration and a few other cards. 

If my wallet is ever stolen, they will get whatever cash is in there but not my credit cards which to lose them is more dangerous. I also keep the card holder and wallet in different compartments of my hand bag.
 

peaches08

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I don't keep anything in my wallet except cash.  I have a card holder for credit cards, I have only one.  I also have my Medical Insurance card, SS card and bank cards in this holder.  Also driver's license and registration and a few other cards. 

If my wallet is ever stolen, they will get whatever cash is in there but not my credit cards which to lose them is more dangerous. I also keep the card holder and wallet in different compartments of my hand bag.
After having my purse stolen years ago, I learned to never ever carry my SS card on me again.  That thing is a bear to get replaced when all other identification is gone too.
 

Willowy

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It's not so bad if you lose your credit card. You just call the company as soon as you notice it's gone and they put a stop on it immediately. You aren't responsible for any unauthorized charges as long as you report the loss in a timely manner (well, I think some companies charge $50 if you lose the card and somebody uses it, but not if it's stolen). Credit cards are the safest payment method for the consumer and the merchant.

But, yeah, losing your SS card can be a problem. I've never carried mine. . .it's home in a file box with a copy of my birth certificate.
 
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GemsGem

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I use my debit card and cash mostly. All my household bills are paid by direct debit and I use checks very rarely as most places in England no longer except them. I do have two credit cards but I don't use them, I have them for emergencies only.
 

GemsGem

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Oh I get it now ! Yes thanks for that, yeah it must be the same as our national insurance card ;)
 

catlover19

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I pay for basically everything with debit. I don't have a credit card anymore and I don't keep cheques in my wallet. The only thing paid with a cheque is rent. Right now, I have $8 in cash in my wallet. I had to take out $20 to pay for parking at the hospital today so I have the $8 left over from that.
 

coolcat

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:think: Let see

-Credit Card
-Debit Card
-Membresy of Sam´s Club
-A picture of Gema & Theresia :lovegrin:
-One Wisker of King Milky and One Wisker of Catulina :catguy:
- One dollar ( for the luck :clover:... )
-Some Mexican Pesos...

That´s it...::wavey:
 

MoochNNoodles

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I have 2 wallets...are you sure you want to know? 


Do I even know?


My little wallet has my debit, credit and kohls card.  And I think our insurance card.  And some change.  Oh and my drivers lisence.  It's small and has a chain and hook so I could actually attach it to make it harder to lose (or take!).  My big wallet has things like change, a few dollars sometimes, hair ties, store membership program/reward cards, appointment cards for any/all of our doctors, band aids, pictures, coupons, my kitchen sink...big foot....you get the point.  I know I said it on a QOD or something in the past; but yeah when I played a game at a baby shower last winter where you had to find things in your purse I won.  By a lot.  Mommy bag and mommy wallet.
 

happybird

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Cash only (well, there is none in there right now...). We try to operate on a cash-only basis and go to pay our utilities at a check cashing place or Walmart. I have one empty credit card for emergencies, but it stays in the safe so I am not tempted to use it. I got into major credit card debt several years ago and refuse to do it again now that I am free and clear.

Sometimes using only cash is a pain. For example, I found a lovely handmade urn online for Bob's ashes. We had to go get a pre paid VISA so I could order it. My husband does have a bank account with a debit card, but we try to never use it. The bank account is fairly new and we are trying to keep it as savings only.
Otherwise, my wallet has my grocery store discount cards and my ACLU know your rights card, and that is about it.
 
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blueyedgirl5946

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We have one credit card that we use for all purchases. We pay it off entirely when the bill comes. We don't have a debit card and we don't carry checks. I don't pay any bills online and there are some I pay with checks.
 

natalie_ca

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Debit card and some cash.

I do have a credit card, but only use it for my monthly transit pass, rarely for anything else.  If I can't afford to pay cash, I don't buy. I will save up and then buy it.
 
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