Debit Card Or Credit Card - Comments

I have both and use them each for different purposes. I use my credit card for bigger emergency or necessary purchase that I don't have the actual cash for (usually for textbooks and art supplies for school, and often for car repair emergencies). Both of my cards are from Bank of America and are made specifically for students. The credit card has very low (nearly non-existent) fees and the debit card has overdraft protection. Also, the credit card's limit expands (started out at a $600 limit) the longer you have it as long as you make your payments on time (right now I don't owe any money on it at all - since I only use it when I have to and then pay it off as quickly as I can).

Both cards are good to have and I definitely think it's beneficial to have both - credit for emergencies and to help build up your credit history for later in life and the debit is just easier than carrying around cash.

I personally think a debit card is safer with the fact that you most likely wont get in trouble with over-spending and debt if you pay attention to what you have and keep track of it.

My teacher is actually quite smart about his credit cards. He signs up for everything he gets in the mail or whatever and then cuts up the card as soon as he gets it. Builds credit without worrying about it. xD

I have a debit card. Two, actually: one for regular spending and one for internet. I keep them separate just in case someone hacks into one, then I still have the other. xD

I like them better than credit cards. Credit cards seem so complicated. With a debit card it's just like, I put the money in every pay day and just swipe it when I want something. I've had cash stolen from me at work so the debit card is a really good thing for me to have. I just put them in my shoes when I start my shift and then there's nothing to steal. :D

Like Dru said, some banks do offer overdraft protection. I use PNC and you can ask if they'll protect you from overdraft on your card. There's a certain way to do that. Then when you try to go over (probably on accident), the card will be denied and you'll know you don't have enough.

You could shop around for a bank with overdraft protection. I am incapable of overdrawing my debit card.

I got a credit card, because I figured I would need to eventually, so why not get it out of the way with? But then, part of the reason for my decision was finding a card with 50 days interest free. I'm one of those people who pays off my credit card like the day that I use it, so I wouldn't be using the 'buy now, pay later' feature unless there was some kind of emergency- eg. car broken and rent due on the same day, etc. I personally think that credit is more versatile, as long as you're not running the risk of getting into debt.