How so? If you are not disciplined, then you are gaining money by not using one.
On the other hand, my debit card is accepted anywhere where a credit card is.
(btw I'm in the EU, so I don't get the obsession with CC in the USA)
On the other hand, my debit card is accepted anywhere where a credit card is.
(btw I'm in the EU, so I don't get the obsession with CC in the USA)
At a minimum, you could benefit from having a credit card that you just use to pay for a monthly subscription (e.g. Netflix, Github, Patreon) and just not use it for any other expenses; stuff it in a drawer and forget about it, or physically destroy the plastic if you don't want the temptation. (Heck, you could probably even request that your credit card have a $15 limit if you want to ensure it never gets used for anything other than your Netflix subscription.)
>(btw I'm in the EU, so I don't get the obsession with CC in the USA)
I wouldn't say that Americans are "obsessed" with credit cards any more than they're "obsessed" with shampoo. Which is to say, yes, there are some people who care a great deal about hair care products and have five different bottles in their shower, but for a lot of people it's just a basic fixture of living that you're kind of expected to deal with and isn't really in people's minds. Yes, I use it every day, but I'm not a credit card enthusiast any more than I'm a shower enthusiast.
2% cash back on all transactions for example mean that you're essentially getting a free discount on everything.
Debit cards are the standard way of paying for stuff, and are accepted everywhere. For online shopping credit cards are used a bit more often, but payment through online banking is a lot more common.
I guess in practice the system is a bit like credit cards, because it is relatively easy to have a negative balance on your checking account. There are no overdraft fees, you just pay interest on the negative balance.
Credit is determined by a lack of a 'BKR registration', which keeps track of both existing loans and payments that you missed for previous loans. If you have no 'BKR registration', you can get approved for a mortgage, a loan or a credit card, provided you meet the income criteria.