why on Earth would I want to pay $1,300 for it after interest, rather than $890.I use my credit cards for most purchases > $10, and it's been decades since I've paid any interest to the credit card companies. Credit cards, when used properly, are wonderful. They provide me with an average of 15 days of "float", and they typically refund 1-2% of my purchases, so I'm actually paying less by using my credit card than if I had used cash. I do agree with your concerns about the privacy issues.
Same with us except the threshold is now about $5. We get several “free” airline tix each year. Marriott Rewards have become substantial since I travelled for business and then visiting the kids at college. We get lots of “free” hotel rooms, too. The merchants jack prices up 3% to cover the credit card fees and we get our cut this way.
So far, so good. No jackbooted thugs at the door because every payment is on credit cards.
And we have never paid a dime in CC interest. Budgeting is the same if you can see the physical cash or not. Just live within your means and don’t buy things you just want but don’t need. Don’t be swayed by the neighbors fancy cars and boat. We don’t have a boat and always buy 1-2 year old cars (just bought a dealership 2014 loaner yesterday with HUGE savings). Will keep it 10 years, too.
True, but almost no one uses credit cards like that.
I don’t, which is why I just don’t use them.
I don’t have that discipline to completely pay it off each and every month, because it seems that SOMETHING ALWAYS ‘comes up’ to keep us from paying the entire balance. When I want to buy something, I just pay cash. Easier that way. Don’t have to bother with owing anyone after the purchase either. We’re all different in our ways and circumstances I guess.