When I got back from New Orleans, I saw that Kris had laid out a new credit card for me to use. On our walk Friday morning, I asked if that card was a new credit card -- to which she said, "No, Scot, that is a new debit card." Well, I asked, "What is a debit card?" Kris said...
To make a long story short, it got way too involved. I said, "You don't need to go on; I'll not use it anyway."
I've never in my life used a debit card and don't know the difference between a credit and debit card. I've gotten along quite well -- thank you -- for 53 good years without a debit card and I'm thinking I'll be fine without one. Kris explained how she gets cash (which is as good as money, to quote Yogi) at the grocery store by using debit card, and I explained how I get cash: I get it in the little pocket of money she makes available to me at home. So, I thought, I don't need a debit card for cash -- I've got access to cash. Who needs a debit card for cash when you've got that little pocket of cash in the drawer?
Then Kris got to thinking about giving me a debit card. She began to think that if I used a debit card for cash, I'd surely forget to inform her and then something bad would happen -- maybe the bank would call about mischievous funds disappearing. By the time our walk was over, Kris had come to a firm conclusion: keep the debit card away from me and we'll all be better off.
What do you think?
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Dave Ramsey's method can be okay for some people, but the whole "cash-only" thing can be taken waaayy too far IMO. There is a couple in our church that are almost Nazis about it - they treat it like a moral issue, and look down their noses as the rest of us heathens that still use credit cards (regardless of whether or not we pay them off consistently).
Not to mention that the husband seems to use the cash envelope system as a means of controlling his wife and not allowing her to make any significant decisions for herself.
My how things change! My parents grew up during the Depression. They taught me that writing a check for groceries was a way for self-important people to show off that they have so much money they have to keep part of it in a bank account. They said if you *must* write a check, at least plan ahead enough to have written everything except the amount by the time all your groceries are checked out, for the sake of those behind you in line. I still do this by instinct all the time. My two problems with debit cards: they don't alert you when you've overdrawn, so why not just write a check anyway? And these cards tend to demagnetize themselves in my purse, so I can't rely on them.
I was thinking about this and I thought:
You know, I am suprised the 'Tree Huggers of America' simply known as 'THA' have not jumped on board with buying and using debit cards. Think about it: One pastic card could save 4,000 trees from being cut down and turned into paper to make small green papers with dead presidents on them which ultimately have no value at all.
Debit is the new cash (so I am told) - so I got one through the bank I have (Univest Banking), and enjoy it. It is like a swiss army knife: One Card - multiple uses. Plus - talk about protection: I would rather have my debit card stolen than 100.00* stolen from my person if I am ever held up by a gunman. I have a password on it and can notify my bank immediately if anything happens - they can freeze my account and until I am issued a new card within 4 days.
#23 - Carol - the reason your debit card is demagnitized so often is because the strips of your credit cards should not be placed against one another. The postive and negative magnets will demagnetize them. - Just a helpful thought.
My final thought about this is: Since I have gotten a debit card, my wallet is lighter, creating a more comfortable situation for my backside. All the 'cool people' are getting them Scot. You might want to ask your wife back for your card!
oh I forgot: The * is there because my bank account is no where close to having that kind of money in it. Being a poor college student, there is no way money like that exists in my account.
My wife works at a pizza place and she says debit cards cause problems (won't work) on a regular basis - much more than credit cards. I'm not sure if it's the debit cards themselves or the user that is the cause of the problem. I didn't know about the demagnetizing either (thanks). Another good reason to read this blog!
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