How many credit cards do you have?

**homesteadmamma** · 03-20-2005, 12:01 AM

None, not even for emergency.

**Dixie** · 03-20-2005, 12:06 AM

I chose the last category. Dh says we will be performing 'plastic surgery' as each card is paid off.

**forestdale** · 03-20-2005, 01:31 AM

I have one. I find it very convenient when buying online or over the phone. I think there should be another category that says, "one". I'd be horrified to have five, or four, or three and I don't want to be in that category, and although there is a 'one' category, I don't have my credit card for emergencies. I use it in a responsible manner to pay for things too far away to drive. It's always paid off in the same month and I haven't incurred credit card fees for yonks.

**halo475** · 03-20-2005, 08:57 AM

I have 2, but the two companies merged, so I am sure soon I will only have one, and that suits me fine. I mainly use it for online shopping and convenience.

I pay it in full every month

**AmyMCGS** · 03-20-2005, 09:02 AM

We have two that we use regularly, and pay in full every month. It's easier than carrying cash for us.

Oh, wait, we also have one other one that we don't use-- DH's grandma uses it, but it also has our names on it. We never charge anything on that one, it's hers, but she needed our credit rating in order to get a credit card.

**baxjul** · 03-20-2005, 09:32 AM

We have one for buying things online, etc. Also, for when I have to go to overnight training for work.

ssn01 · 03-20-2005, 10:15 AM

None - i'm VERY proud to say...

however I'll be applying to one very soon for those "emergencies"

**SCDowney** · 03-20-2005, 12:02 PM

I have only one now, used to have four! Three of them had points, one was for an out-of-town store. I had tons of points on my Sears card, paid it off and cancelled the account, and the lady on the phone said I could still use the points certificates. But when I went to the local store, the manager wouldn't let me use them. I was so upset! I don't shop there if I don't absolutely have to anymore.
All in all, I learned the hard way what it was costing me to keep those cards. They are all gone and now I have one low-interest cc that I consolidated the balances of the others to. Am getting it paid off! I don't use it for emergencies, although until my ef is built up enough, I will use it to get to my elderly mother's if anything happens to her. I get a tax credit for travel "outside", so use the cc for to book air travel, but make sure I can pay it off in a reasonable amount of time.

**seadream** · 03-20-2005, 01:55 PM

We have 2, one is used for big purchases or emergencies and the other one I use for online shopping or for my doctor treatments.

Both are paid in full every month

**TanyaMT** · 03-20-2005, 03:41 PM

We have two, one that doubles as our Costco card and gives cash back and one REI one that gives REI dividends. We would only have one but our preferred card (the Costco) is an American Express and a lot of stores don't take it so we got a VISA.

I use them for everything but we pay them off each month. That way no interest but a nice rewards check each year.

**BlessedMommy** · 03-20-2005, 04:04 PM

Two plus major cc's, plus one store card and we always pay the balances in full every month! Dh needs one for work, and the other I use for most everything. I treat it like cash and do not use if for things we otherwise would not be able to afford. I find that the benefits of responsible use of cc's outweighs the the risks for my dh and me. For those who use credit irresponsibly, it may be different. (Having a cc for "emergencies" without an emergency fund established to pay it off can lead down a slippery slope!)

**Darlene** · 03-20-2005, 04:20 PM

I have 2 and almost all my buying is done with one & it is one of those cards that pays you a percentage back on all your purchases. I pay it in full every month and have never paid a finance charge.
My cash back award is already up to $80, just for using their card.

**Florence** · 03-23-2005, 02:16 PM

We have two. One is used for most of our purchases and gives us frequent flier miles. Currently we are building our FF miles for our 2006 trip to France. We pay the balance off each month so that we don't pay interest.