When paying for something like groceries which do you use your credit or debit card?

[Date_a_Snob]

[MaazHussain]

I use a Credit card for all my expenses unless there is any discount offered on my Debit Card.

The credit card I use is Visa Infinite, and my debit card is MasterCard World Elite as they offer greater rewards, deals and discounts.

I have also given supplementary cards to all my family members and have set the limit for their expenditures so they cannot go beyond the set limit.

Also, it is important that although the card has a greater credit limit that doesn't mean it has to be utilized in full or taken the cash facility from it, otherwise it can be a debt trap as the interest rate can be as high as up to 40% annually. Always use it based on the monthly budget that you have according to your income and pay the monthly bill in full.

Now the question is why do I use a credit card for all my expenditures?

• Rewards and benefits: It offers points for purchases made with the card, which can add up to significant savings or travel benefits over time. It also offers perks such as extended warranties, purchase protection, or travel insurance, which may not be available with a debit card.
• Building credit history: Using a credit card responsibly and paying off the balance on time can help you establish a good credit history and improve your credit score, which can be important when applying for loans or mortgages. Keeping your expenditure below 30% of your assigned credit limit maintains your credit score at an optimum level.
• Fraud protection: Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. If your credit card is used fraudulently, you can dispute the charges with the card issuer and not be liable for the fraudulent charges. Debit cards, on the other hand, may have a longer dispute process, and you may be liable for a portion of the fraudulent charges until the dispute is resolved.
• Make it a source of earning: Using a credit card for all expenses makes the available cash free to invest in short-term saving products to generate some profit from that cash. I invest that cash in saving certificates to generate the return on that amount.

That being said, if you can control your spending habits, I would recommend start using a credit card over a debit card or cash as it comes with better rewards.

[burlen]

To me it varies from one grocery shopping outlet to another and from one country to another.

I rarely carry my physical debit and credit cards with me nowadays. I use Apple Pay, PayPal, and Amazon for 99.999% of my purchases.

I do almost all of my grocery shopping on Apple Pay, which is set on my credit card and clear the balance on the credit within days using my current account. I use this nested or hybrid method (Apple Pay/Credit Card/Current Account) of paying for groceries mainly for fraud protection and convenience.

In December 2016 I was a fraud victim. Someone made a grocery shopping amounting to £350 ($500). Fortunately, the bank investigated the matter and refunded me the money within days.

Using this hybrid payment method builds and strengthens my credit history and worthiness, especially as all payments are made in time and keeping your balances.

However, I sometimes do grocery shopping on Amazon Fresh. My payment method is set on my debit card. Using a debit card for payment is mainly to keep my current account active. That is not suggest it will be deactivated if not used.

There are grocery shops in and outside the country that only accept debit card payment. Some grocery shops in countries like Austria and Cameroon still don't accept foreign Credit card and Apple Pay. I think their payment systems still not part of the seamless SWIFT international payment system.

The no interest charges of debit card cannot be ignore since you are using your hard earned money and not borrowed money on the credit card.

[LazerBean]

Always credit. I get good rewards, plus I try to keep my bank information circulating as little as possible.

[Pinkspark]

I use a credit card which gives me cash back for every purchase and then pay off the card every time.

[Date_a_Snob]

my credit card gives me rewards points. after six months I had enough points to buy a small coffee at Starbucks

[Pinkspark]

Lol 😂

[Date_a_Snob]

while funny its also sad. I've basically stopped using it.

[Pinkspark]

I don't blame you.

[Pinkspark]

There are cards that will give you 1-2% of your purchases back as credit. They might be better for you.

[Date_a_Snob]

I live in Canada and the most my banks cash back card will give me is 0.5%

[Lliam]

We either pay cash or used one particular (reward points) credit card that we pay off every month so as not to accrue interest charges.

We never use our ATM card except at the ATM or inside the bank. Credit cards are more secure and also benefit your credit score.

[jamesgoldman]

Cash primarily then would be debit card

Never use my credit card anymore but when I did it was generally only to make money or save money because it was a good deal, think my only non business related credit transaction was a pizza to prove the card worked

[Date_a_Snob]

im trying to use my credit card less

[jamesgoldman]

Good first year I had one I ran though about £800, all told probably close to £2,000 and paid about £6 in interest

[Date_a_Snob]

thats excellent

[Date_a_Snob]

last year I probably paid about $20 interest (so very low). my only complaint is that after six months the most I could buy with my rewards points was a small coffee at Starbucks

[jamesgoldman]

Yeah that good, I took £20 as cash and got charged full interest so 30% on it but I made £50 on the silver and gold I bought with it

[BarryLiverstone]

Use a credit card which my bank issued me. I can make purchases and pay it off with no interest each month. But I’ve also been asking for them to increase the limit as it’s helping me build up my credit score. Was told if I only used cash that my credit score wouldn’t grow as fast.

[Date_a_Snob]

I was doing the same but than began to ask what I needed such a high limit for, my credit card rewards are so tiny its a joke and since I want to buy a home was told that too much credit can actually be a bad thing

[BarryLiverstone]

Too much credit isn’t a bad thing, so I’m not sure who told you that. Also credit scores matter in car loans and anytime you want a loan. Good luck buying a home; my parents helped me buy mine and it’s worth the time and investment

[Apple1996]

Almost always debit. I do have 2 store type of credit cards and will use them at those specific stores but other then that I don't have a credit cards

[Dinklex3]

I’ve always used my debit card, but If I get a gold I’d probably switch to using the credit card.

[Anonymous]

When paying at grocery stores, I get the impression that most won't take credit cards and it has to be a debit card. I think debit cards have lower fees for the seller. But I usually pay with cash.

[gorydetails]

I have an American Airlines rewards card that I use exclusively for grocery purchases. I pay off the charges as soon as they hit the balance. This has generated 20,000 miles for flights in just a few months.

[HighValue]

I never use my debit card for anything. I use a credit card and pay off the whole balance every month.

[OddBeMe]

Depends. It’s not bad to use credit cards. It’s bad when that’s all you have with no income assured.

And actually not using credit can be harmful to your credit score. It’s bullshit but so is that industry.

[OfMiceandMen]

I often transfer money to my credit card to get the points.

[Fireguy17]

we have a household debit card, so the money comes out of that account.
I do not have a debit card other than that one.

[MikeTheBartender]

Never use a debit card unless you really have to, besides no points it's much more difficult to fight a fraudulent charge.

[xHoneyxBeex]

My debit card. I only use a credit card in emergency situations, which is not often.

[Guy13]

Credit card for safety reasons but I have already set up transferred of funds for the next day.

[bolverk]

Neither, I prefer to use Cash, but if I have to I'd use a debit card, using a credit card for groceries is a stupid move.

[douride2]

I like to use cash. I don't even have a debit card.

[mathew1543]

Credit card is a scam and makes you pay more. So always debit card. I don't have a credit card and never will.

[boobliker]

the one that gives the best cash back as they do change, but pay them off in side the time

[NostalgiaSenpi]

Cash, then debit card. I'm getting rid of my credit, slowly. I live in my means.

[SunnyRS]

I prefer debit card cause it limits me in spending and tells me how much I have.

[Agape93]

Cash

[Date_a_Snob]

best response yet

[Nikki1989]

I have never had a credit card.

[comekitty]

Mostly cash, sometimes debit

[Astarlessnightsky]

I don't have a credit card

[FunkyMonkee]

My food stamps card.

[exitseven]

I usually write a check.

[smahala1991]

Debit or EBT card

[Date_a_Snob]

whats EBT?

[smahala1991]

Oh sorry, here in America it's for near poverty people. It's a stipend per month to buy groceries

[smahala1991]

Some people call it food stamps

[Date_a_Snob]

Im sorry I asked I didn't mean to embarass you. I live in Canada and we dont use food stamps instead we have Food Banks

[smahala1991]

We have those too. I currently go to one as well every 2 weeks it's fine though a lot of people get the bad stereotypes of people using government assistance programs when. In fact there are certain criteria to receive assistance

[Date_a_Snob]

a friend I know uses the local food bank yet he just bought himself a new laptop and has a netflix subscription

[josephine2002]

Card i dont realy have any cash on me anymore

[LiamJHayden]

Cash and debit.

[CubaPirate]

Cash because I'm old fashioned

[CrimsonAngel09]

Debit.

[FreyaRed]

Cash.

[Christoff92]

Debit card

[Iron_Man]

I pay in cash

[Kelly6]

credit

[MeiAndYou]

Credit

[LavLavLuv]

cash

[Anonymous]

credit card