[Kique]

A short term loan that will be 0% interest if you pay the full balance every month? In exchange for greater security and in most cases points/miles?

Credit cards aren't for everyone, but if you can pay the full balance every month then there's no reason to not use one.

[pdonis]

> if you can pay the full balance every month then there's no reason to not use one

And if the alternative is using a debit card, then by definition you can pay the full balance every month, because the money has to be there in your bank account before you can spend it with the debit card anyway. It's the same money either way, the only difference is whether it comes out of your bank account in little increments over the month or in one big chunk when you pay your monthly bill.

[LeifCarrotson]

The reason credit cards exist - and why Visa and Mastercard are worth $800 billion - is that people, on average, do not manage their money effectively enough to come out ahead. Their average customers come out so far behind, instead, that the credit card companies can afford the occasional default and they can afford to offer rewards and the automatic 0% interest loans to try to entice more customers.

[pdonis]

Yes, I understand that, but that doesn't change the fact that if you are able to manage your money effectively (and if the alternative is using a debit card, you are, since, as I noted, the money has to be there in your bank account anyway), then you can take advantage of the credit card's benefit of not giving anyone direct access to your bank account, as a debit card does.

[chkaloon]

In the US, if someone fraudulently uses your debit card they can clean out your bank account, possibly with no recourse. With a credit card you're only liable for $50.