A Comparison to Help You Decide
Which do you think is better...a debit card or a credit card? Some say they will never use a credit card because they do not want to go into debt. Although that seems reasonable, there are other factors that need to be taken into consideration. To help you make your decision, let's consider the principal differences between a debit card and a credit card.
4 Things to Consider
There are many differences between a debit card and a credit card, but we are going to focus our examination on these 4 principal areas:
Bank account protection
Affect on your finances
Purchase protection
Rewards and perks
Bank Account Protection
Debit Card
Money comes directly out of your bank account. Charges are paid immediately, whether legitimate or not. You have to work with the bank to recover payment of fraudulent charges and not all of the funds may be recovered.
Credit Card
Card issuer pays the charges and you pay them back later. Since there is no direct connection to your bank account, greater protection is provided. Fraudulent charges can be disputed and removed from your account. You do not have to pay them unless the investigation proves they are legitimate.
Affect on Your Finances
Debit Card
Since charges are paid directly from bank account, you can only spend what you have. This can help you not overspend. However, using your debit card does not help build your credit. It has no affect on your credit rating at all.
Credit Card
Using a credit card to pay for purchases frees up your cash to help with cash flow. However, it does increase the risk of overspending. The balances should be paid off monthly to prevent building debt you cannot pay. Unlike a debit card, using your credit card can help build your credit. That's a big bonus.
Purchase Protection
Debit Card
Not provided.
Credit Card
Many credit card companies offer protection on purchases and extended warranties on some items.
Rewards and Perks
Debit Card
Limited, if any
Credit Card
Many offer rewards, perks and points, as well as, travel assistance and travel protection.
In Conclusion
Overall, credit cards offer the best protection and benefits. However, if you have difficulty controlling your spending or are habitually late making payments, a credit card may not be your best option. You could find yourself with damaged credit and debt you cannot pay. So carefully consider if you have the discipline to only purchase what you can afford and to make payments on time. If so, then a credit card is definitely the best option for you.
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