Should I get a credit card?

[queenfluff]

So, It has been almost 2 and half years since my BK completed (AUg 2009) and I have gotten used to having no credit cards. (I have debit/credit card from my credit union) And I hate to admit this but I am kind of liking it. I always spent too much when I had credit cards before. Honestly being without credit cards has taught me how to not be such a spendthrift.

Every once a while I get weird credit card offers in the mail (of course not from the places I BKd but other banks! hehe!) But I throw them out because I honestly have an aversion to them now. I think they are evil (esp. after seeing that Max'd out movie)
I never want to have my money at a regular bank and even though there are some limitations involved I want to stay at the credit union.

But I reading here (and other places) that is it good to "rebuild my credit" by having one. I honestly don't know if I trust myself with one. Right now, I don't have any "bills" I pay that would show up on my credit report. I have pay as you go phone. I am unemployed (I have a teeny part time thingy) so I don't have an electric bill (under someone elses name), regular phone etc. I have kind of looked at my BK as "7 years of probation" where I am not allowed cards like credit ones. (ok, that I know that isn't what BK really is but it really honestly feels like that is purpose of the 7year thing)

Is it really necessary to have a credit card to rebuild credit? (or is that just the easiest way).

I remembered in the past when I had one of my credit cards for 20 years and I had paid it all off once because it was getting out of control (yes, cc companies hate it when we do that!) and than I asked them to reduce line because they kept increasing it on their own and I didn't want one that high. They wouldn't do it for me (stupid citibank). Proof that cc companies want you to get too over your head in debt even if you are dead. This is why I want to stay away from all big banks forever!

Yes, I know that just because I have a higher credit line does not mean I should go to it but I was never good at money managing as far as credit cards go so, for me, the purpose of asking for that reduction was to help myself to better manage my money and I learn best by experience.

[mountanddo]

I honestly don't know if I trust myself with one.

This one sentence tell me the answer without reading anything else. If you don't know if you can control your spending you are not ready to get a credit card even to re-build credit.

[IBroke]

A secured CC from your local CU is always an option..

[JackBondLove]

Well, if you never plan to get a loan for a home or car, then you don't need to have the ability to get credit.

I guess I have always considered a credit card as being cash, so I never had a problem spending it just because it is there. However, I can see some folks who lack the proper willpower being better off without a card. I like the legal situation with a credit card (disputes are guaranteed, and not debited), which is better than a debit card, I don't care what the banks say!

[queenfluff]

A secured CC from your local CU is always an option..

Thanks IBroke! I was thinking about something like that. I would rather support my little credit union than the big nasty banks. Esp. Citibank -they can go and take a flying you know what!

[queenfluff]

I guess I have always considered a credit card as being cash, so I never had a problem spending it just because it is there. However, I can see some folks who lack the proper willpower being better off without a card. I like the legal situation with a credit card (disputes are guaranteed, and not debited), which is better than a debit card, I don't care what the banks say!

I was interest that you said this because when I when through my BK "money management" thingy - that is exactly what you are NOT supposed to think of it as - which is what I, like you, always thought it was. I always viewed it as back up cash - of course that is supposed to be for emergencies etc but unfortunatley I mostly didn't use it for such - I too often used to buy things that I really didn't need and couldn't afford but wanted - and I think MOST people do not use it just for emergencies unfortunately. It is our society that kind of gives us this mndset too. When I first got a credit card, I didn't really know how they worked which is why I always thought of it as "extra cash" I can spend. Well, it isn't really. It like taking out a loan.

For emergencies, yes, I was always glad I had one but too much credit can be dangerous I think. Mostly for me, it was because I never made enough money - If I had the money, I would always use cash but I usually never have had enough. Many times I would pay things like utility bills with it because I was just scrapping by - transfering balances from card to card just to make it. Once I was making enough money, not to have to do that, I already had maxed out cards. So that idea of the credit card as cash - it is easy to see how people start thinking that because I think lots of people use their cc's when they don't have enough cash.

I would just like to be able to have more control over the card in general - I would like to set my own line etc. I don't like it when the bank screws with it. For me it is just my way to kind of get into the habit of not being able to use it just because I have it. Being without cards has kind of taught me how I really don't need them.