I’ve broken my own promise not to use my credit card until it looks a little bit more health yet

The wonders of the modern world.

I looked at this thread for the first time this morning and at the top appeared an advert for a credit card with cash back.

They're watching us.

Scary!

I've got an advert for an exercise bike at the top of the page.

Someone knows I should get off GN and do something!

I see someone mentioned that a Debit card can be used instead. This is a dangerous thing to do as via that your whole account can be cleaned out! When I was going away I mentioned it in the bank when collecting currency and asked if it would be possible to get any extra cash I needed using my debit card while I was away. The young man I asked told me in no way should I do that but take it out using my credit card as although there would be charges they were very little compared to the risk of having our account emptied.
We use our credit card for all card purchases because of the protection it affords and then at the end of each month pay it off when the bill is due. It is actually a good way of tracking expenses - our monthly bill is always within a hundred pounds or so - should it be more we check and usually it is something like a garage bill.

I entirely agree. I don’t want to find my account emptied by someone who has my debit card details. Credit cards give all the protection you need and the consequences of fraudulent use (as has happened to me a couple of times) are less serious and more quickly fixed.

Bloody hell Welshwife, I had no idea I really don't like the idea of having a credit card but the issue you raised is really important

Same here Welshwife.
I took out a Clarity Card with my Bank purely to use abroad, as there’s no conversion charge.
When my CC statement comes in, I check it against my receipts and mark certain entries, so I know what the purchases are, if I have to go back into it for some reason.

When my husband died and I started to travel I researched 'currency cards' on MSE, and I loaded a Thomas cook card. Wasn't great when it wasn't accepted in a New York theatre! When I came home I got a Barclaycard 'travel' card instead, 0% interest for conversion at the time, that worked.

many are being kept in constant poverty and dragged down by debts and said interest rates.

For some, it will be because they don't realise that 0% cards are available, so then their debt mounts because of the interest and then they have a poor credit rating and become ineligible for 0% deals.

Well, I suppose it depends what you use the card for. If it is to buy things that you cannot afford and run up debt, then it might be a good idea to just cut it up or cancel it.

I, as I am lucky enough to be able to do, you just use it because it is a safe way of buying things (especially online) and you can pay it all off every month then hang on to it.