Credit cards.
Hate the damn things.
If you've not got the money to be buying something you probably shouldn't be buying it.

This doesn't extend to their use on the Internet as you get better protection with CCs, and also doesn't cover bigger purchases where again the extra protection/insurance can come in handy.

Also, people who buy things on their credit card and then act surprised that they (a) have to pay it back at all, and (b) have to pay interest on it.
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Fri 17 Oct 2008, 16:32, 6 replies)

It depends
I use mine as a handy, secure means of payment for goods and services, then pay it off at the end of the month, thus effectively earning myself up to 7 weeks 0% credit.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 17 Oct 2008, 16:46, closed)

I have several credit cards - and they've saved my bacon lately
I've had a huge run of bad luck lately, which has decimated all my savings, my rainy day fund and without being able to buy things on a credit card, I'd be homeless and starved.

I don't have any flash goods, flat panel telly or xboxes or whatever you think I've used my credit cards for. I've used them so that I can eat. If I didn't have a credit card I could not put petrol in my car and I would lose my job and source of income. All my income has gone towards keeping a roof over our heads and heating and electricity. I am getting a second job even though my first job makes me utterly exhaused, and I've been told by my GP that I need to take it easy otherwise I am at risk of another stroke. I cannot afford not to work so I'm going to have to take the risk.

I know that I am charged interest, and I know that I will pay them back when things get better as they cannot get worse than they are.

So if it makes me common, then I am common.
( h3donist tryin' to play me out as if my name is Sega.., Fri 17 Oct 2008, 17:06, closed)

carrying cash is also common
The Queen doesn't, and she has her picture on it.
(turtles head is touching cloth poked a dwarf on the forehead at, Fri 17 Oct 2008, 17:45, closed)

i don't and never will have credit cards.
i've seen too many family and friends getting way out of their depth with the wretched things. i've got fairly simple tastes, i don't drive, so if there's anything i want, i can always wait until i've saved up enough to buy it.
before anyone flames me, i have to add that, so far, i've been incredibly lucky not to need something quickly that was out of my price range.
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Fri 17 Oct 2008, 21:54, closed)

Same here,
the only loan I've ever had was a mortgage.
( social hand grenade I was a lurker before you were a lurker, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 12:26, closed)

Got my only one
just before going to the States for the first time. It stayed at the hotel, so if I got mugged, I could lift some money to get through the holiday, or in some sort of family emergency, I could go to the airport and catch the next available flight back to the U.K. and worry about the cost afterwards.

They have their uses.
(Leo Sasquatch hates being the grown-up, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 17:07, closed)