Your relationship with credit cards

[jeffrey]

There's always quite a bit of debate on how to use or not use credit cards with finances. I'm just curious what relationship you currently have with your credit cards

[paladin]

We have 5 free hotel nights along with $600.00 cash so far this year. We put everything we can on our cc and pay it off each month. It works our great for us.

[simpleyme]

hmmm I did not see an option for me in the poll

I do not tend to use credit cards I have them I just do not think its convenient or worthwhile to use them , and I do not think they are evil

[MonkeyMama]

I voted, but I would personally say they are "evil" but also a "useful tool." I don't like the companies at all and struggle morally with giving them any business.

But the rewards and convenience is just too good for us personally.

I personally don't understand why most credit card practices are legal though. (I know they are improving with new laws, etc.).

[disneysteve]

Everyone knows my stance on this. We charge everything we possibly can to our cards and reap hundreds of dollars in rewards in return, about $900 in 2007.

There is nothing evil about a credit card. It's all in how you use it. You can't make a late payment and then complain about the high late fee. You can't choose to carry a balance and then complain about the high interest rate. If you don't like the late fee, don't pay late. If you don't like the interest rate, don't carry a balance.

[glock35ipsc]

There is no option for me either. I don't have one, and don't plan on it either. I don't think they are evil, I just don't trust myself with one.

[atomicrc11]

I have three cards and all get paid off every month. They are two Citi cards which both earn ThankYou points and a Discover More card. The reason for two Citi cards is one is a Mastercard for general purposes and one is an Amex that we use exclusively for Costco purchases. The Discover More only gets used for the 5% cash back promotion for the quarter.

[stressedmama]

I only have 2 cards (1 which never gets used). My Upromise card I use for the couple of things I do charge such as my DH's MBA tuition (which we get reimbursed for by his company and pay in full every month). I love the fact I can link it with my 529 and my $ automatically transfer to my kids accounts.

[fruitbowlk]

I don't have one. I have been irresponsible in the past and now I'm paying for it so I think I have learned lesson. Cash Rules.

[srblanco7]

Agree w/ Disney Steve. Useful tool...free loan (for the month) because I always pay balance in full.... and a necessary tool since I travel a fair amount for business and my company doesn't issue cards...

[FrugalFish]

I'm in the "useful tool" category as well. It's hard for me to view CC's as evil, though I agree that there are some terrible practices among CC companies.

This question strikes me as being close to questioning what my relationship is with a hammer. It's a tool- helpful when you need to do some work, but if you are careless and smack your finger, you probably aren't going to feel pleased about it, but alas, it's something you've done to yourself.

[Gruntina]

Hmm. I am either in the "tool that I am learning" and "used only for emergencies" categories.

Now I am not a newbie to credit cards though. I am finally debt free from paying off a 60K debts.

I am pretty "Gun-Shy" with using the credit cards again even though I know better now. Having the tangible touch to managing my own money instead of going through a third party is something I relish right now.

Maybe I will look into the advantages of using a credit card someday but for now, I am just not ready.