What is the advantage of having a credit card?

Question

Is it better than a savings account?
Can anyone list the goods and bads of having a credit card?
I'm thinking of getting one.

Answer 1

I'm 34 and I have never had a credit card.I've never believed in credit cards.Too much of a temptation.Get a debit card instead.

Answer 2

A credit card and a savings account are completely different things - I can't see how you can say one is better than the other. A savings account is better for saving. A credit card is better for buying things on credit.

If you cannot tell this difference easily, then you do not have the financial knowledge necessary to use a credit card responsibly.

I use a credit-card with cash-back, and pay the balance in full each month. This way, I get up to 6 weeks' free credit on anything I buy (i.e. I buy it now, but don't actually pay for it until 6 weeks later), I get back a (very small) percentage of everything I spend (paid once a year), and I get the additional buyers' protection provided by the Consumer Credit Act, for no charge.
If you don't pay the balance in full each month, generally you pay a high rate of interest, so a credit card is not an efficient way to borrow money.
When I buy things the cost of which I can claim back from my employer as expenses, a credit card has an additional advantage - my employer generally reimburses me before the credit card bill is due to be paid, so I'm never actually out of pocket.

Credit cards can also be used on-line, by mail and over the telephone, which cash cannot, and are easier and safer to carry than large amounts of cash (but share these advantages with debit cards).

Don't get a credit card unless you are sure you will not spend on it more than you can pay, and understand the possible charges and the terms and conditions.

For more information see
http://www.fool.co.uk/
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

Answer 3

A savings account will ALWAYS be better than a credit card. Look at it this way. You want someting that costs $100.

Using a credit card at 13%, paying the minimum payment (we'll say about $10 per month) - in one year, you'll pay 127.41

Using a savings account at 3%, saving $10 per month, you'll have the $100 plus a little more (interest) in 10 months. Keep the money there for a full year and you'll have over $120 (including interest, which you get to keep).

The great thing about savings is that by the time you save the money, you often realize you don't want or need what you were saving for, but keep saving anyway, because it has become a habit. Whereas, with a credit card, you buy what you don't really want or need and continue to pay for it LONG after you have lost interest in it.

Answer 4

If yoy pay off the balance at the end of each month then a credit card can be a good thing. You have additional rights when purchasing with a card. If goods are faulty the credit card company will deal with it because you are considered to have bought the goods from them. This is useful for expensive electrical items. If the firm that you are purchasing goods from goes bankrupt, you get the complete money back. For instance I ordered an expensive 3 piece suite from a major firm who went bankrupt in the interim period. Only those who paid by credit card got all of the money back.
You do need to be very disciplined and never go over thedate when interest accrues. It is definitely not instead of savings and cannot even be considered as an option

Answer 5

Advantage:
1. You don't have to carry cash for purchasing things
2. Even when you dont have money you can buy up to your card limit
3. U can withdraw money by using the card from the ATM up to certain limit.(in Bangladesh Standard chartered offers the cash withdrawal facility)
The best thing is "its your lovers birthday or your anniversary and you don't have money to buy a gift for the special one.....if you have a credit card you can purchase the gift for your special one"
Disadvantage:
1. U have to pay interest (high rate) on the balance amount
2. Your regular expenses will be increased
3. If you let the credit amount pile up u will have to spent a lot amount for interest
Savings Account:
Savings account is different from credit cards. In savings account you will deposit some money and at the end of certain period the bank you give u a interest.It helps you to save a part of your earnings. where as you pay through a credit card to purchase and you have to pay the amount with interest later.
If you take a credit card, please at first know about the charges, interset rate, payment etc. from two or more credit card companies, then compair between them and then decide.

Answer 6

It enables you to budget and, provided you settle at the end of each month, you can get about a month's interest-free credit on purchases you make. Some credit cards have special offers that tend to be gimmicks.
The drawback is if you use it as a way of borrowing money the interest rate charged is high (they have to pay for the interest-free credit they're giving others).
It can't really be compared with a savings account as, as far as I know, interest is not paid on credit balances although you can overpay a credit card (useful if travelling for a long period). Credit cards can also be a source of emergency cash.
If you can handle money I think you'd find a credit card very useful. However if you find it difficult to balance books and are frequently overdrawn then I'd suggest that you avoid a credit card.

Answer 7

If you are very careful with your money, and pay off your debts within one month, then credit cards are OK - but if you think that you are the type to think "I have a credit limit of £5000 so I will spend upto that amount and then think about paying it off whenever" then do not get one.- Credit cards can get people into alot of trouble and the deeper you get in the harder it is to get yourself out again. If I were you,, I would stick to a savings account and then when you can affort something, buy it with cash - It could be a much better option for you

Answer 8

i had a credit card and a girlfriend who had expensive tastes. unfortunately the two dont go well together and i now find im in quite a bit of debt.
however if you can control your spending and keep up with the repayments they can be a blessing.
Many people today look down their noses at people who dont possess a credit card ie; hotel staff in particular. There is also the bonus of being able to purchase goods from the internet far more easily if in the possession of credit cards.
But please,please take my advise and use them wisely. On no account should you apply for store cards without firstly reading the small print and understanding the terms and conditions and interest rates of such cards. good luck

Answer 9

if you are making a large purchase you can have up to 9 months interest free credit on a purchase credit card and in addition you have section 75 rights therefore if anything should happen to the product ie. most commonly you buy an expensive product that becomes faulty or you do not receive the goods and the company goes bust (you would be surprised how often this happens) you are covered under the consumer credit act and your card issuer must reimburse you. this counts whether you pay for the whole thing using your card or just use it for a deposit. in addition if you pay for a holiday solely using you card the same applies - or if your flights are cancelled / delayed or you have an accident abroad many card issuers insure you for this as standard and you will receive compensation. refer to the consumer credit act for more on this. PS use sensibly or you will end up with huge bills and mounting interest!!!!!

Answer 10

Get one. Pay it off monthly. Buld your credit history.

Credit cards have better protection against theft and loss. Some even add warranties to items you purchase with the card. You can also earn rewards with some cards.

Credit cards and savings are NOT the same thing.

Get a credit card. Pay it off monthly.

Open a savings account. Contribute to it monthly.