How many credit cards?

atush

Also best for travel/emergencies. When travelling with travel insurance, they often ask you to pay for things you claim back later. Which can be hard to do if you don't have the reddies in your current acct.

I had extra expenditure of severla thousand for the 5 of us during the ash cloud. So, having CCs we were not the ones forced to sleep on airport floors, sharing a single meal for dinner.

sparrer

Hominu wrote: »

I can manage perfectly well without a credit card, but it always gives me several advantages:

I don't have to check my current account balance (which is always low as money is typically in a savings account)
I get cash back if I use the card
Using it abroad incurs no charges, unlike most debit cards.

Every month when I'm paid, I pay off the card balance in full, so its just like a debit card, but with added perks.

atush wrote: »

But you lose the extra consumer protection that buying with a CC does bring, plus you miss things like cash back, free flights/travel, hotels etc.

you also get to use their money for free, for up to 56 days.

I'm not criticising at all, it's just mho.

The added perks don't really affect me these days. If I can't afford something I save up for it rather than buy on credit.
I can earn bonuses and cashback on purchases by using comparison sites, points, etc., and a wee bit of haggling from time to time.
I don't travel enough to get free hotels, travel or insurance and as I'm disabled I have to purchase special insurance, which CC's don't cover.

I got into into horrendous debt with CC's which took years to pay back, thanks to MSE I live quite happily without them and the temptation they created. I agree they can have their place, and admire the self-control some have with plastic in their hands.

atush

I understand your opinion/latent fears.

But having a CC for use for buying things on the internet, and travel (if you are able, is the most wise thing. I see too many Brits traveling places like the US w/o one and it is unwise.

In any case, I too use cashback sites. but also use my CB CC and get double cash back.