Quote Originally Posted by j_h_smith View Post
And you think we're a responsible society when it comes to spending? Haven't been for a long time.
No I don't think we're responsible at all. And it probably should be a little harder to get a CC than it used to be. However, it still boils down to personal responsibility, and if CC are used responsibly, they can be not a bad thing. That's all I'm saying.

That's why I said to pay off the charges EVERY month. Personally I don't think he needs a credit card. With a credit score close to 700, I don't think a credit card is going to do anything but hurt the score, but if he has to have one, I know he can get one from the 3, I mentioned.
I'm no expert, but I bet if he had a CC it could raise his score as he'd have more available credit. I know one of the factors is your credit/debt ratio. So the more available credit you have the higher the ratio relative to your debt. A higher ratio is better. Again, my major was biochemistry, not finance, but this is my understanding of it.

A CC can be useful for shopping online and things of that nature, though with Visa debit cards and the such, which aren't actually CC cards, I suppose they aren't really necessary.

Actually, if it comes down to it, I guess I do too. My Visa is a card tied directly to my checking account, so that when I pay for something using my card, it comes out of the checking account immediately. I don't know if it's a real credit card because there is no chance of me not paying off the balance. It's just a convenient way to be able to pay for things without having to go to the bank to take the money out of the account, then take it to the store to buy what I'm wanting.
Yup, this is what I did until several years ago. I had a CC for emergencies and the such, but would only use my Visa debit card for purchases. It was when I got offered the cashback program that I switched over to using my CC.

That's a good choice. Might as well make the CC work for you instead of against you.

Jim Smith
That's what I'm thinking!

But again, it's all about responsibility.