Comments on: Visa Debit Cards More Popular Than Visa Credit Cards

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:00:14 +0000

As I read this article, I was wondering the same thing as Brumby (#2).

@NCN: BTW, I think you meant “debit” instead of credit in the second sentence of the second paragraph… “Over that same time, the number of credit cards in use rose 14%…”

By: cheap chick

cheap chick — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:16:21 +0000

I think that a credit card for anyone is a bad thing. But a debit card is fine, as long as a budget is set and followed.

Another way, for me, is to get my kids prepaid cell phones. I don’t mind paying up front for the minutes and not have a long term contract eother.

I got a Tracfone for $30 that cam with an equal amount of minutes so the phone was kinda-sorta free.

By: When You Own Stuff Stuff Owns You

When You Own Stuff Stuff Owns You — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:54:58 +0000

We moved away from using credit cards when our mortgage company ended their rewards program. We have one card that we use for travel (especially helpful when renting cars).

We use cash allocated to specific categories (envelope system) for nearly every purchase and this has truly made a huge difference in our spending habits and has reduced the chance of our debit card being compromised at a store or restaurant. We have been using cash for several months now and it is refreshing not to have a cc bill each month.

By: Brumby

Brumby — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:25:53 +0000

I read somewhere, maybe here, that when you use your Check Card (Debit Card w/ Visa Logo), you should choose the “Credit” option (sign) rather than the “Debit” option (PIN) as this will afford you the Fraud / Merchant screwup protection that a credit card provides. Supposedly, using the “Debit” option does not carry the same benefits.

I do this regularly. So are my purchases included in the “Credit” card total or the “Debit” card total?

Can anyone verify the Credit/Debit points above?

By: Coupon Artist

Coupon Artist — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:11:19 +0000

For me, using a debit card is essentially the same thing as using a credit card since I always pay my credit card immediately anyway. As long as I don’t use cash, I’m OK- I need the accountability of seeing that purchase show up on the statement again, and I track my spending by using those purchases since I can’t seem to hang on to receipts.

But, for those who are apt carry credit card balances, I think that the increase in credit card uses is a good thing- as long as it doesn’t just reflect the fact that peoples credit cards are tapped out and/or that they can’t get any more credit in this credit crunch. The penalties for going over the limit on a debit card are a lot more severe than the penalties for going over the limit on a credit card, so if people are using debit cards only because of a credit crunch, then this could be a bad thing for them unless they are really able to manage their money so they don’t overdraw their bank accounts.

Debit cards definitely used to be a better/more helpful tool in the time before they just let you overdraft your account and charged you fees for the privilege.