The only problem with that statement is that it’s dead wrong. I have never owned a credit card in my life and I don’t plan on owning one. When I tell people I have booked airline flights, booked hotels, traveled to China and Sweden and other countries, gone on cruises and purchased all kinds of things over the Internet without a credit card they say, “You’re lying!”

I tell them, “No, I’m not lying. I function just fine without a credit card.” I thank Sears, Roebuck and Company for turning me down for a credit card over twenty years ago. I bless that day. I have never looked back since.

Yes, I admit it. I use plastic. I use a card that has the Visa symbol on it. But guess what, it’s not a credit card. It’s a checking card. It’s like a debit card on steroids because I can use it as a debit card when I want or I can use it LIKE a credit card when I want. It is accepted anywhere a credit card is accepted. So I can make purchases online. I can make hotel reservations with it – no problem. And yes, the money comes right out of my checking account as if I wrote a check. It forces me to only spend money that I actually have. What a concept!

I had one person say to me, “Now how can you do that? You don’t keep a $5,000 balance in your checking account, do you?” I had to say, “Well, actually I do.” (It’s in reality much more than $5,000.) I’m not trying brag or anything. It’s just that my wife and I work very hard to have a decent cash reserve. We only spend money that we have.

So, I truly get a kick out of telling people you don’t need a credit card and that I’ve never owned one. They really do find it hard to believe but let me tell you, it’s a great way to go.

I could go on and on for another entire article and talk about the perils of credit cards and how stupid it is to own one. So don’t get me started on that today.

I know a person whose take-home pay is around $1,500 per month. He has racked up in credit cards and other debt over $26,000. His minimum monthly payment to service his debt is around $750 a month. When you take $750 out of $1,500, that doesn’t leave much to live on, and in fact you can’t live on that. Because of high interest rates he will never pay off his debt by just making the minimum monthly payment. What a shame that he has gotten himself into that situation through debt accumulated primarily through credit cards.

So my message today is: You do not have to have a credit card. Live within your means. You will be so much further ahead in the long run. It has enabled me and my wife to live totally debt free. Our home is paid off. Our cars are paid off. I’m not trying to boast. I’m just like anybody else. I’m just trying to show that you can exist in today’s world without a credit card. Cut up your credit cards. Cancel your accounts. Do whatever you need to do. I am living proof you CAN leave home without it.

Living without debt and loving it!

Thank you.

Copyright © 2009 Garold N. Larson