@Anonymous wrote:
has anyone just considered just paying cash for everything? I feel like I am in a cat and mouse game .... only the banks win?
I think they constantly change the credit formula just to keep us guessing and buying more products? thoughts?
If you pay cash for everything, you lose the game completely unfortunately.
People who left their cash-based existence behind almost never go back. You never, ever want to have your tradelines discounted (or outright closed) for inactivity... or worse, go back to being a thin-file which unquestionably sucks.
Also any spend that you do via cash doesn't count as potential profit for any other lender which looks as you for a credit card application. Don't throw away FICO and future credit advantages for something which is becoming more and more reactionary in today's society.
Bad idea for several reasons. Unless you can pay for big purchases (house, car), you will pay a premium for loans, if you can even get one, with little no credit history. Second, if you pif, you pay no interest and can get rewards which equal after tax rebate for living your life. Three, credit cards offer more protection for the consumer against merchant fraud/dissatisfaction. Four, too many purchases require some kind of deposits such as hotels which is bad for cash flow without credit cards. Even if you can't control your use of credit cards, I would still get cards and put some small recurring charges on it and set up auto pay and then sock drawer the cards (hell rip them up if you want).
LIMITS IN CARD DESCRIPTIONS
I think you guys are hyping up credit cards while downplaying cash.
You can't bargain with a CC like you can with cash. Example if you are buying something outright in some cases cold hard cash can lower the price. Let's say you don't have a premium card service and want tickets to a concert. You can try online, but let’s say the concert is tomorrow and purchasing the tickets online and having it overnighted to you will cost too much; you can perhaps find a ticket scalper and bargain NOT with a CC but with cash.
Some small stores don’t take CC.
Some small stores will want you to make a minimum purchase (with is against the merchant agreement) and will refuse sale to you if you don’t.
Many foreign stores don’t take CC.
Some cabs don’t take CC.
You can’t trace cash purchases.
Cash transactions are instantaneous.
Henryjumbo, your argument is really just saying only cash can be used in certain times. Or that you can use cash to negotiate discounts. This is all true. However, I don't think this is the essence of op's question. He us asking why shouldn't he live an all cash lifestyle or as close to it as he can.
@Crashem wrote:Henryjumbo, your argument is really just saying only cash can be used in certain times. Or that you can use cash to negotiate discounts. This is all true. However, I don't think this is the essence of op's question. He us asking why shouldn't he live an all cash lifestyle or as close to it as he can.
Oh well that's unpossible 
Haahaa yeah. Probably wrong board for him to ask that question on.
@Anonymous wrote:
has anyone just considered just paying cash for everything? I feel like I am in a cat and mouse game .... only the banks win?
I think they constantly change the credit formula just to keep us guessing and buying more products? thoughts?
I'll never go back to cash, and allow the banks to screw me on NSF fees and get no money back for paying bills.
