This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
This article is for responsible credit users
Credit cards are safer to use than debit cards and are also packed with perks like cashback, insurance, or travel rewards; if you have a cashback credit card, you’re getting a discount on every purchase.
I didn’t get my first credit card until after graduating college, which is unusual, but I’m glad I waited – waiting to get my first credit card set me up for success. Shortly after graduating college, I got a new steady job and learned how to manage a credit card with consistent income and ensure the balance was paid off each month. There were months when I did carry a balance, but 99.9% of the time, I paid off my balances in full.
How many credit cards should you have?
I always recommend owning at least two credit cards; if you lose one, there is a technical issue, or your credit card gets compromised.
For example, one time, I was traveling, and one of my credit cards did not work; thankfully, I had a backup credit card to utilize. Always have a minimum of two credit cards.
The 15 Reasons To Use A Credit Card
Security. Credit companies quickly reimburse you for fraud or unauthorized transactions. While they are working on canceling the transaction, your actual money is unaffected, which is often not the case for debit card users.
Receive an extra 30 days to pay for something without interest! The typical billing cycle is 28–31 days, which means you can buy something today but not actually pay for it until a month later. This little buffer is valuable – especially in emergencies.
Better quality identity theft protection.
Rewards (e.g., cash, travel, free hotels, travel miles, discounts)
Builds your credit profile – as long as you pay on time.
Transactions are quicker and often require no pin.
Easily track your transactions.
Visualize your spending in distinct categories.
Never have to carry cash around. However, I still recommend always having some cash on you in the case of an emergency.
Establish good habits when it comes to using someone else’s capital. You have to pay back whatever amount of money you spent within 28–31 days, or you will be penalized with interest fees.
Free protection (e.g., rental car protection and phone insurance). I didn’t even know credit cards came with all of these perks until I started reading the documentation that came with my credit cards (go figure). There are a sh*t load of benefits your credit card offers; be sure to check them out. Credit cards from credit unions may offer additional benefits.
Credit cards make excellent secondary emergency funds – as long as you pay off the balance in a reasonable amount of time. If you’re looking for ways to mitigate or offset the interest fees you’ll owe on balances you carry, check out this article, Can I Use A Credit Card As An Emergency Fund? to learn some helpful hacks.
Travel securely. Don’t stress over cash and debit cards when you’re traveling. Use a credit card at all times if possible. In the case fraud ever takes place, you can quickly fix that with a credit card.
Save money. With all the rewards and cash back you can get from utilizing credit cards, it’s not the most prudent choice to opt into cash and debit cards. Over the lifetime of your credit card usage, you can earn quite a bit.
Leave your checking and savings accounts alone. Using a credit card will keep you away from your cash accounts. When you go in to pay your balance, you will feel it and see it because no other transactions are escaping your account; this might help you spend less on your credit cards and better track your monthly spending.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.