My point in this thread was to get a "card" which you can use for purchases while the virus insanity rules the country. Since I never advocate for getting credit, the answer seemed clear. Lots of folks have credit cards. Lots of folks can't qualify for them.
Good points. Gotta have
some way to pay...
There is, however, one situation where I can recommend a credit card - that is if you have the income and discipline to use the card, and pay it off every month
in full. IN FULL.
If you are able to do that, a CC is a good idea, especially since you can end up getting points or cash back which lowers your net cost or gets you some free products, depending on your card. Plus, you get to use somebody else's money for a period of time at no cost.
But if you can't do that then probably best to not use a CC.
I have seen people run into problems with a Debit Card when they unknowingly run too low a balance, or their paycheck direct deposit is delayed for some reason; they may even know they have enough to cover a tank of gas, but don't realize the Station holds a larger amount for a period of time and then they overdraft their account when other checks start bouncing.
Had a young couple send out a number of payments (checks), few days later husband went got gas and the standard transaction hold was for $75 (iirc) and didn't realize his $10 worth of gas was going to do that... several checks bounced, each a $50 bank fee, several companies charged a bounced check fee, interest rates on their cards went up.... etc. Big problems.
Some banks have even been excoriated for sorting transactions in order from largest to smallest, and running deposits to the account after. Wonder why they do that? To run up fees.
So you always need to be cognizant, even with a Debit Card.
As always, YMMV, and hope you all have a great day.