# What is your preferred method of payment? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651 "2016-10-15T22:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/1 "2016-10-15T22:20:36Z")
Some of the responses to the George Washington Dollar Coin thread in GQ got me wondering. I use credit cards where I have to (anything online), but anything I buy in the store is generally all cash. Primarily because of the limiting effect on spending. Now, I always paid the CC off in full every month, but I oftentimes found myself spending significantly more than I had intended, and thus saving much less than I had intended. So, how do you prefer to pay for your purchases? ---
**Author:** ![ultimate11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/49beb7/32.png) [@ultimate11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultimate11)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/2 "2016-10-15T22:32:57Z")
When I have a job, I’ll sign up for a credit card and use it to buy little things. Large things, I’m still working on figuring out. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/3 "2016-10-15T23:10:26Z")
Credit cards for everything … except in the one store that only takes cash/check. ---
**Author:** ![ultimate11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/49beb7/32.png) [@ultimate11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultimate11)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/4 "2016-10-15T23:14:18Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Credit cards for everything … except in the one store that only takes cash/check. And Katz Deli in Manhattan. Where Harry Met Sally and where my ATM card met ATM machine that wasn’t a Chase bank machine and where I got hit twice with fees. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/5 "2016-10-15T23:25:49Z")
I have one Visa card (an Amazon rewards card) and I use it for absolutely everything, in person and online. I pay it off every month. I rarely carry any cash except pocket change (less than a couple of dollars). I write a check for my house cleaner and the guy who mows the lawn. If I carry cash, nine times out of ten I wind up giving it to panhandlers. I have been dead broke in my life when a couple of dollars made a difference. And I don’t care what they do with it. It’s a gift from me with no strings attached. Everyone else gets the card. Makes doing my taxes easy because I download my cc statements into Quicken and categorize everything. Also I build up massive amounts of rewards points. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/6 "2016-10-15T23:27:45Z")
Debit card. Since it’s tied to my checking account, I do have to watch my spending so I don’t get overdrawn. I do have to keep my account balanced, the same as if I had withdrawn cash from it. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/7 "2016-10-15T23:53:44Z")
I carry my credit card only if I am going out with a shopping list. I buy only what is on that list, and pay with the card. I always have over $100 in cash in my pocket, but I think those same bills have been there for a few months. You never know when you might need to give someone cash, but it’s pretty rare. Except for laundry quarters and bus fare, everything I spend is on my credit card, which I pay off on line in full every month from my bank account where I have direct deposit. Both the bank and he CC company mail me a detailed accounting of all transactions every month. I know my income is greater than my living expenses, and that I never buy anything I don’t need, so I don’t bother counting how much I have or sorting it out into savings and checking. The totality of my finances is a little more complicated than that, but the above pretty much covers the day to day. I have more than I will ever need, not because I have so much, but because I need so little. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/8 "2016-10-16T00:34:08Z")
Folding greenbacks. I also try to give exact change, to minimize the coins I bring home. (I put 'em in a jar and cash 'em out every few years.) I’ve never actually used a debit card. (I have one, but I’ve never used it. To be honest, I don’t know how.) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/9 "2016-10-16T00:41:08Z")
Between cash and credit cards, I generally use whichever I think will make the transaction quicker and easier. Plus it feels silly to use a credit card for small amounts, so I’m inclined to pay cash for small purchases. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/10 "2016-10-16T00:44:41Z")
Cash-back credit card that is paid in full every month. I called today and they are sending me $100 back. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/11 "2016-10-16T01:14:16Z")
Apple Pay. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/12 "2016-10-16T01:21:32Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Between cash and credit cards, I generally use whichever I think will make the transaction quicker and easier. Plus it feels silly to use a credit card for small amounts, so I’m inclined to pay cash for small purchases. What he said. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/13 "2016-10-16T02:10:26Z")
Mostly cash. Even when we finance bigger things (car, trip) we often pay it off early and when we charge we rarely carry much of a balance. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/14 "2016-10-16T04:30:58Z")
Debit card and cash (for less than $20.00 or so) Credit card for large purchases and on-line shopping. Credit cards paid off when statement arrives. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/15 "2016-10-16T06:47:32Z")
Cash for purchases under $40 Online purchases PayPal or cc. I prefer PayPal if it’s accepted. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/16 "2016-10-16T07:31:50Z")
Routine, same amount every time and the time is predictable: Auto deduct from debit card. Will give TR/Account to limited people (PayPal has it, Google does not). Know who and when, do not know how much (gas, electric, credit cards, a few others): have them set up for manual direct debit. In person, time/payee/amount varies, never more than $100 - cash A few are oddball: being old, I have several Rx drugs - most can be refilled by machine - I have the pharmacy’s mail-order handle it (yes, I know we are killing the Pharmacy Schools). I do have have opioids, which are a super-special case\* which requires super-special handling. - Esp. now that Appalachian Coal Mines have shut down (that Ni\*\*er in the White House is waging war on White America!) and the area is being flooded with “Hillbilly Heroin” - Oxycontin. Not surprisingly, some of the illiterate Wh_te Tra_h are killing themselves with it. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/17 "2016-10-16T13:52:49Z")
I use a credit card for almost all my spending. I have a budgeting program I use to keep my spending within my means and pay off the card the card once a week. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/18 "2016-10-16T15:25:41Z")
We use our VISA everywhere we can - we get cash back once a year - this year it’ll be close to $500. We make an effort to pay off the balance right away, but occasionally let some carry over. Cash is for getting a soda at a convenience store, or when my prescription co-pays are in the cents rather than dollar region. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/19 "2016-10-16T15:38:48Z")
Visa debit card or linked Apple Pay for just about everything. I get ATM surcharges refunded through my online bank so I can get cash as needed, there’s a Mexican place that won’t take cards under $10. I try to visit restaurants and bars that are part of either Spring Rewards or Groupon cash back. They’re both linked to my Visa debit. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651/20 "2016-10-16T15:47:39Z")
Cash for all in-person purposes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-preferred-method-of-payment/768651.md?page=2)