No visa, no mastercard,not even a discovery

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-04-2010, 12:22 PM

Last week while chatting with our marriage counselor we mentioned that we had no credit cards. You should have seen the look on his face. I think he didn't believe us. He then went into about how important it is that we have one. It's just the way it is he says.
He said that I HAVE to get one and establish myself in the adult world?? WHAT? First of all I have had plenty of them and learned that I do in fact not need them and that's why I choose not to have them.
We paid off all our debt in just two years and in that time have found no need for a credit card.

What about emergencies?
That's what a savings account is for.

What if you can not get to that money?
That's why you don't keep it all in one place.
We have our money distributed between three separate banks.

Of course now he has me doubting our choices . The fact is we do face a lot of strange situations where we have to explain ourselves. Now I wonder are we really that strange or is society really just that brain washed.
Anyone else not have a credit card by choice?

**Neeley** · 10-04-2010, 12:29 PM

We don't have any and I wouldn't have it any other way.

**frugalwarrior2** · 10-04-2010, 12:30 PM

He is a MARRIAGE councelor not a financial expert. Maybe he needs D.R.? Many people believe you have to have one but it's a falicy(sp)?. You can do anything w/ a debit/visa card that you can do w/ a credit card. If the Emergency is that large,you would pay over time. That why hosp. take payments. That's why we have medical ins.,emergency funds,life ins. and and an anticipatory budget. I would have to tell him an overveiw personally but not in depth. Not on my session dime.

I was just thinking, I would be curious if he were in a lot of debt? This begs to how he handles his life and what he'll advise for yours.kwim. No I doubt you can ask him. It just occurred to me.

Oh and you really are that strange. Keep it up!!

**RaineyDaye** · 10-04-2010, 12:38 PM

The only time I think someone actually needs a credit card is when renting a car. Otherwise, I think the rental company wants a huge deposit... if they will rent at all...

**Greebo** · 10-04-2010, 01:03 PM

We have debit cards. We have no credit cards. We will never have credit cards again.

What's in my wallet? MONEY!

**Josephhgoins** · 10-04-2010, 01:12 PM

I have a credit card that I do not use and has a 0 balance. I have one more that I am paying off by the end of the year.

I think IF you have managed to get them out of your life, then you life is much better for it. No good comes from Debt!! Only stress and heartache.

And to be honest, if my counselor was giving me this sort of advice, then I would probably get a new one.

**Libby** · 10-04-2010, 01:22 PM

Society is brainwashed into thinking that the 'buy now pay later' ideology is great. Don't get me wrong - IT IS - if you're the lender.

Keep up with what you are doing. I prefer to have one credit card 'just in case' for while I'm out and about traveling as I'm not a huge fan of debit. Now if I had that much money saved up to cover emergencies - I may sing a different tune. I'd rather charge $3 of fast food to my cc then use debit. I have problems with my account being "compromised" after each time I debit. The only place I don't have problems is when I use their approved ATM/bank machines.

Do what works for you and kindly ask that the marriage counselor butt out in the matters of finance if thats not a contention btwn you and DH. Its irrelevant.

**krbshappy71** · 10-04-2010, 01:37 PM

Careful, he'll be dishing out medical advice next thing you know! Leeches to drink your blood is cleansing. Do it weekly.

Seriously, though, move away from that topic and if necessary find another marriage counselor that has the same values that you both have if things like this keep coming up.

Hugs to you both as you strive together to save a marriage, that touches my heart.

**Rebookie** · 10-04-2010, 01:37 PM

That guys is a fool..

**Jenny WC** · 10-04-2010, 01:46 PM

We have debit cards but no credit cards. We have had them in the past and I will someday have them payed off. Not interested in anymore debt.

Jenny

**frugal is fun** · 10-04-2010, 01:54 PM

I do still have two credit cards but they both carry a zero balance. I have two store cards but I use them to get the bigger discount and pay them off the same month.

I was never one to go crazy with credit card debt so I'm comfortable with the way things are.

**shoiji** · 10-04-2010, 02:12 PM

Unfortunately there are just idiots in every profession. As the other poster states he is a marriage counselor. He should not be telling you that you need a credit card. How does that help your marriage.

When you go to people for therapy you usually think they have your best interest at heart. Unfortunately whatever comes out of their mouth can sometimes just be garbage. Just because they have a license does not make them a great counselor. It is also your right to disagree with the counselor. They really should not be pushing their ideas on you. You should be making your own decisions through therapy not because the doctor told you you need a credit card.

**druthb00** · 10-04-2010, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by RaineyDaye

The only time I think someone actually needs a credit card is when renting a car. Otherwise, I think the rental company wants a huge deposit... if they will rent at all...

OK, first...I LOVE YOUR CAT lol. And I second the car rental thing. The deposit they want is pretty ridiculous if you don't have a CC.

I like earning points on mine, so I have one I use all the time and several others for emergencies. My cash is in an online savings account that takes days to get to if I need it...but has earned anywhere between 2.01 and 1.3 APY in the last 12 months. My bank's rate is pretty sad...and I have yet to dabble in other ways to earn higher interest. So this works for me for the moment anyway.

I don't think it's strange that you don't have a card, though. More power to you if it works for you

**Mamaof2rugrats** · 10-04-2010, 02:28 PM

We have a military star card which is basically a credit card you can only use on base at the exchange and commissary which we paid off the balance on and do not use. Besides that we just have debit cards which work just fine for anything we could ever need a credit card for such as renting a car.

**druthb00** · 10-04-2010, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mamaof2rugrats

We have a military star card which is basically a credit card you can only use on base at the exchange and commissary which we paid off the balance on and do not use. Besides that we just have debit cards which work just fine for anything we could ever need a credit card for such as renting a car.

Oh...DUH! I've done that before....I think I need either more caffeine or more sleep, one of the two.. Yeah, debit card works just fine for that one