Do You Use Debit or Credit?

I used to do credit because I got money at the end of the year. It was awesome. Then, many of the merchants I frequented quit participating in that program and now it's just easier to use debit.
It's easier to just use my pin number and be done with it.

I use my debit card (no credit cards), but it depends whether I'll say debit or credit. Credit is faster, so I say that at places that know me. Debit requires no ID so, I say that at places that don't so I don't have to fish out my ID as well.

I try to use my card as credit as often as I can because my bank gives me points for each dollar spent. (even bills) Last Christmas, I cashed in my points and had over 500.00 in gift cards to Target, Walmart, and Amazon to help with shopping for the holidays. I should have as much this year. I will be cashing in my points this week. :) (actually, this post reminded me to do it again!) It's like free money since I would be using my card anyway.........

I don't like using the debit ever since last year when someone just about emptied our bank account. I don't know exactly how they did it, but our bank said from swiping our debit somewhere someone was able to get our pin from that. Thankfully we were able to get it all back from the bank. Even if I use debit, I always run it through as credit so I don't have to put my pin number in.

Credit and pay the card off every month. I love the miles...... hope they don't go away

It seems as though most momma's aren't understanding you. Correct me if I am wrong but you are NOT talking about using a credit card, but the credit option of running your bank card.

I still run as a debit because it is instantly taken out of my account. Because my bank card has the visa logo, it is treated as a credit card as far as theft is concerned, so i am not as worried that someone might get a hold of the pin. I check my account mulltiple times a day, I am just anal that way, so it would be hard for someone to clean me out without me being right on top of the situation.

Could oit happen? Absolutely! But, like I said, our credit union is really good with fraud and theft and I am bad with tracking reciepts, so I go debit most of the time. I will say, though, that my bank does a rewards program points system if you run your debit card as a credit, so that's a pro for the credit run side.

I use it as Credit because i don't get charged plus if you want to return an item then the retailer will process the return right back on your card. I also don't like entering my pin number at a store, reserve that for the rare occasions that i use the ATM.

I never use my debit card. If someone gets ahold of your debit card number, and drains your account, or makes transactions with it, you have no recourse. With a credit card, you have much more protection. So we use the credit card, since we pay it off every month.

I don't use a debit card, either as a debit or credit for the reasons listed below. Credit cards are safer, and if you have a dispute you aren't fighting to get your own money back. I never buy anything I can't pay off at the end of the month. Also, credit cards can help build your credit score. I'm not sure debit cards do. I do the Upromise thing, which in theory builds money for college. We got a few textbooks for my older daughter, and supposedly we can transfer the cash into a 529 for my younger daughter.

I use my amazon credit card so I can buy my kids craft supplies and books for free. ;-)

Hubby does teh same, and he saved up enough amazon rewards to buy himself a giant flat screen last year. It's kind of like our "spend on anything" piggy bank, especially since you can even get cash.

We use a credit card for almost everything due to the fact we get awesome reward points by doing this.
BUT, that being said: FYI business are charged more for credit card purchases by the card issuer, sometimes as much as 2% for every purchase. The business has to pay that fee everytime 'credit' is used. So if we are at a locally owned or small business, we use debit. Banks charge NOTHING to the business for a debit purchase.

My credit union charges $1 every time you use your pin number, so I always run as credit, check with your bank.

I use debit so that I don't have to whip out my i.d. every time.

Debit is for groceries and smaller purchases. We have credit cards linked to Upromise so when we make purchases at certain retailers, gas stations, etc., a small percentage of that that goes into a college savings fund that we have set up for the kids. The credit card bill gets paid in full every month anyway, so it's not as if we are paying interest charges, etc. It's the same as cash, but with the Upromise kickbacks.

For me, it's credit. I only have cards that either put money into an educational fund (UPromise) or that pay cash back. I pay off all cards each and every month, and know I can live within my means. I don't trust debit cards at all. I like a degree of separation between my debt and my bank account.
I very rarely do cash or check (except to credit companies) anymore... easier to write one check for it all at the end of the billing period.
This actually makes budgeting much easier for me as well, because the money's not trickling out a little at a time for transaction fees or little things here and there.

DEBIT! It comes right out of my account, so there's no surprises... it won't let me overdraft my account (which gets costly)... debit is like using cash; you can't spend more than you don't have. I'm super frugal and would NEVER get a credit card... most people I know with credit cards live well above their means, then pay for it later. It ruins their credit; they have to file bankruptcy.

I play it safe and only spend money if I have it. I am VERY proud to say that I'm almost 28 and have NEVER had a credit card :)

I always use credit, but I guess I can switch to debit now.

I bank with USAA and as of 9.1.11 they did away with their rewards programs because of the new banking regulations. So I did credit to get rewards, but I'm glad you asked this. Now I'll start using debit and just have it hit my account immediately instead of waiting a day or two for it to go through :).

ETA - it's my debit card that I use as credit. Also, my bank shows it as a pending charge so the funds are not available to me, they just don't show as posted until it goes through. Not all banks are like that though.

We don't use credit for anything. Except my Kohl's card to get the discounts, and I go write them a check before I leave to cover it.

This is the deal. If you plan on using your bank card REGARDLESS....

you should use it as debit; the stores are charged a smaller usage fee than credit.

They pay to have electronic payments. You should always use your debit card as a debit card. It costs the stores less and SHOULD create bigger discounts (or less mark-ups) on your items.

It should not cost you anything extra from your bank to use your card as a debit. Your bank may charge extra if you get money back, but I've never been charged and I have a crappy bank who would if they could.

If you question is do you use a credit card for purchases over your debit card, then it depends on the purchase. We try to stick to "cash only" meaning we use our OWN money....cash or debit card.

Makes no difference to me, so I tell them 'whatever is easier for you and the store'. They usually say debit.

I use credit at large stores and debit/cash at locally owned ones.

I own a small business and I had to raise my rates to deal with the increasing CC rates, just to accept them. CC users get great rewards, but someone has to pay for them - and it's the business who does. I give a $5 discount with cash or check.

Also returns are easier with a CC...not so straightforward with debit....which is why I use CC at larger stores.

Credit if i use my debt as a debit card after 4 times debit i get chardes 25 cents per transaction for ever credit and signature i get points that i can use to buy stuff

I use credit, which comes directly out of my bank account just like debit because I have a debit Visa. If I use the credit part of my debit, it's covered by Visa if there is fraud. Plus, my bank offers free checking if I use my card as credit once a month. I use debit for my Target debit because I get 5% discount if I do and I use debit if I need cash back. Otherwise, I use credit to protect my bank account. I did have someone steal $3,000 from me but thankfully it was my Discover card and not my bank account. But it still scared me though.

I use debit as well...

I got into a lot of credit card debt in the past so I now just stick with my debit card. That way I can never spend what I don't have and I always check my account to see how much I have left for the month.

I get reward points when I run it as a credit card so I always do that (unless it is Aldi's which doesn't accept credit.)

It is my understanding that credit cost the merchant more; therefore they encourage debit.

I also believe that debit is an instant transaction and credit occurs at midnight (or something like that).

I know credit typically carries more consumer protection. I'm not sure if that translates the same for a debit card but I do it anyway.

It really depends on a few things but mostly what is their return policy? If I use it as a Debit and need to return it but they will only give me a charge credit then I use my card as Credit. I feel if they take the money right out of my account I should get cash back not wait up to a week to get my credit into my checking account. Either way it comes out of my account but if I can I will use the debit to save the store money especially if it is a small store.

Debt will immediately withdraw the money from your account. So for book keeping purposes it is the best.

Swiping it as a credit, can make your account off for days sometimes. Some places(I am not sure if it is legal anymore, but it probably is)can even put a hold on double the amount you purchased to make sure you have enough in the account to cover the charge. Like Red Robin, restaurants, I wont eat there anymore, because that is what they do when you use your card.. regardless of what you may want to happen, it always comes out double and will hold the funds until the amount you owe has cleared your account(mind you I have not eaten at a RR in probably 7 years....but this is how they did it back in the day).

I always use the debit option if it is given to me. Just way more accurate.

And there is nothing worse then using your debit card to pay for something, then say you need to return it...and they put the money back on your card....But because the way the system and banking stuff works it takes DAYS to get put back in your account....even if you used it as a debit..it is returned as a credit. ANNOYING!

Debit for everything except gas and online purchases. I am responsible for groceries, kids needs, etc.. from my checking account. My husband gives me a set amount each paycheck to cover this and I have to budget to accommodate what we need. Gas goes on a credit card because we have a card that gives us cash back for gas purchases. I don't like using debit online. Too risky.

I use my debit card, but sometimes put it through as credit. I like having my purchase come right out of my checking. Since I live in a very popular vacation area I use the credit option if the store is really busy. I don't want anyone to see my pin number.

We only use credit cards at stores (grocery, restaurants, gas, etc.). Debit cards are reserved exclusively for taking out cash at an ATM machine. So I never get asked if it's debit or credit, because it can only be credit for me. We do this because credit cards are covered for unauthorized purchases - by law people are only accountable for the first $25 or $50 (I forget which) if someone steals your card or gets your number. But debit cards don't have that same protection. So if someone gets your card and pin, they can wipe out your savings account.

I use debit because it costs the merchant less in transaction fees. Unless it's a business that I don't like, then I do credit.

Debit. It comes out immediately.

I use my debit card as a credit card so I don't have to punch in my PIN.

Ask your bank if they have a charge for debit usage. Some do.

Always debit. It comes right out of our checking account. We never use credit. Debit is like paying cash or writing a check. We don't do debt.

Debit cards are scary to me. I won't have one. If someone gets your card and figures out your pin, they'll empty your bank account and it could take months to figure it out and get your bank to give you back your money. If someone steals your credit card, you don't pay until they figure it out, and you are only out $50 max.

I use a credit card and pay it off every month. (Plus, I get miles.) And I don't have any debt except my mortgage. I am careful how I spend, so I don't get in trouble with my credit card. I just really think that debit cards are much less safe than credit cards.

No debit cards for me - I don't get why anyone would use one. (Sorry!)

Dawn

I always use credit. I heard that banks charge a fee as if you are using an ATM that is not in your network. I don't know if they stopped that but it always made me nervous. I HATE bank fees. Why are they charging me to store my money then charging me to use it. :)

Ok I hope I am responding to your actual question. I believe you are asking whether to use your bank card/credit card for you checking account as credit or debit. I personally use it as credit always because both come right out but my bank considers debit transactions as point of sale and it cost me around .40 cents per pos. If I use it as a credit ( money still comes out right away) but I am not charged. I think it depends on your bank charges. Also I don't like to put me pin in all the time. I also don't sign the back of my card because I want them to ask me for ID (which honestly most don't).
Hope this is what you were looking for.

I use debit. I do not like unnecessary debt. If I can't afford it, then I try not to have it. I use a credit card through my bank for incidentals because I do not carry cash, but I treat it more like a charge card and pay it off at least once a month. In the event that I NEED some credit for something, I want to have it available to me.

I use my as a debit whenever possible. One because it comes out of the account immediately and is much easier to keep track of it. Two because it's faster and I hate having to sign those electronic things.

I worked in the banking industry for 10 years, I've never heard of a bank charging fee's for using your debit card as a debit. I am sure that there are some unscrupulous banks that do, but I imagine they are few and far in between.

I tend to use debit when making purchases in a store (so I can get cash back). In the past year we have tried to switch to mostly cash only transactions, so I go to the ATM and take out cash once per week to cover my grocery expenses and incidentals, eating out, etc. And use cash to pay for them all. I USE my debit card at gas stations (I HATE going inside) but I press the "credit" button on the pump.
If we are in a restaurant and I don't happen to have the correct amount of cash, I use the credit card (safer if someone get the info off of it). Or if I am making a large purchase or something that I might find an extended warrant on useful (credit cards often automatically double the standard warranty on items) then I use the credit card. I get points for purchases on the card, so I use it on bigger stuff. I never use the credit card more than I can remember how much the bill will be when it comes. And we pay it in full each time--sometimes I'll pay in advance when I know I'm about to use it. That way there are ZERO interest charges and I still get points! :)

I do debit since it shows up instantly in the online banking and I dont have to wait to sign a piece of paper. I use BofA and it automatically rounds out the amount and puts some in my savings each time I swipe, I can't believe how fast that change adds up. If my purchase was $15.20, the bank automatically makes it $16.00 and puts .80 cents in my savings account.

BOTH are taken out of your account. Sometimes for debit transactions there is a fee (like when I pay my verizon cell but if i use the same card as credit then there is no fee). I heard using it as credit is better as there is more buyers protection. I usually say whichever is easier.

I use debit so it will come out right away, but I try to use it as credit when I think of it because my bank gives me points toward stuff. Right now I have enough points for a gift card. It's not much, but it makes me feel a little better about all the swiping I do. :)

Always debit. We have no debt of any kind and prefer to see immediately the amount of funds we have available.

Debit only. I don't want any credit card debt. I know I can pay it off each month, but this way I never rack up anything to pay off. I always know exactly how much money I have.

I think the issue with credit is that they can place a hold on your account for a specific amount - say $50. Until the actual charge goes through, your available balance is lowered by that hold amount.

I've not actually experienced this, but I have read that banks will do it.

As for which is best, it totally depends on you. If you're the type to overspend with a credit card and live outside your means, then debit is best because it limits you to the cash you have available. If you're someone who can stay within your means and pay off your credit card every month, you can find a card with a reward that is valuable to you, and then credit is probably better. For me, I always use credit and never use debit. I earn airline miles and have taken several free trips to Europe and Hawaii with the miles I earn.