Can I use a debit card instead of a credit card my whole life?

I don't EVER want to spend more money than I have... is this possible when buying a car or house? Can I buy these large investments using a loan and pay the loan off with my debit card?





I'm 16 and want to use a debit card for everything.


Do all places that accept credit cards accept debit too?|||The thing is, if someone scams you while you are paying with a credit card you are covered and can get the money back.


Not so easy if someone clears your bank account via a debit card.


That's why credit cards are great.


But you can use a credit card just like a debit card, by paying money into it then spending up to that money.





|||Yeah, all the places that accept credit also accept debit





You can use debit only for your whole life, but you have to make sure you have enough in your account for all of your charges. The debit card is linked directly to your checking account, so if you buy something for a buck, your account will go down by a buck. Same thing for large investments. If you invest in a car and put a down payment of $5,000, your bank account has to have more than $5,000 (for the car and other stuff that you will buy) because if you dont, you could get charged fees or even have your account closed.





Its possible to live that way, but its going to be hard (unless your bill gates or something)





|||Unfortunately you are going to find that there are many circumstances in which only a credit card and not a debit card is accepted. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but like you I usually pull out the debit card, but have had to use my credit card several times when debit cards just weren't accepted.





Just because you have a credit card that doesn't mean that you are spending more money than you have. Some people do that, and its a bad decision, but you don't have to be one of them. Keeping a low balance on a credit card is a fantastic way to build credit. You want to keep good credit even if you plan on paying cash for everything. More and more places of employment (even simple employment like department stores) are starting to pull credit reports on potential employees before hiring them. If you pay cash for everything you'll have no credit and this could very well effect your future job prospects.





Just use credit wisely and you'll find that it can be a wonderful tool in building your future.|||Sure you can use a debit for almost everything. As long as you have the money in the bank that is.


You can make car payments with a debit. They will probably give you a website where you can pay online,


|||You would be smart to do so, yes but if you do get a credit card and you are careful with it like I am it can help your credit score out a lot.





|||Having only a debit card would be incredibly smart. Who cares about your credit score if you will never rely on credit to purchase anything but save the old fashioned way? |||Yes. But some things you need a credit card for.





Even you have one with only a little credit, they can be beneficial.