If you can't afford it, you don't need it. Credit cards are not the answer to good credit - for most people, they are the ticket to bad credit...

I don't spend a dime more than I have except in those rare emergency cases, where I have a support network to help. Paying interest on my own money is just stupid... I use a debit card, which acts like a VISA, to rent cars, hotel rooms, etc...

Unfortunately you can't always use a debit card to rent cars because there is no credit history against them. And places that do accept them typically have restrictions - cash deposit, proof of account, etc. to ensure you didn't open some account just to make off with a car. If you plan to do that, always call ahead and verify that there won't be a problem. It's too late by the time you arrive at the desk with no transportation to keep going.

I ran into that problem once, they required a $50 cash deposit. Not much of a problem, I don't think...

For that franchise, no. But it could happen.

yeah. like that's really possible in today's america with NSA security cameras every where, computer tracking of gas purchases....look how fast they found those idiots that bomb boston.. it was like.. four hours max... and those were two guys who were motivated to stay gone...

These sites that have more advertising than what I wanted to read about are disgusting and I ALWAYS delete them and refuse to do business with any of the advertisers that I happen to see before I delete the article, it's as easy as that !!!

Must be a bank that wrote this article. Then the if you lose your job a credit card comes in handy...LOL..then what are you suppose to pay that off with. Rent a movie or a car...LOL..you can rent a car with a debit card these days. A job only bad credit will prevent you from getting a job...Such a stupid article.

As for renting just use your previous landlord as a reference or if it's your first time all they expect is more of a deposit. Still no excuse to get a credit card or a car loan..etc...

the credit system is fraught with lies, fraud and stupidity, and that's just their side of the equation. it's a rip off pure and simple and the only purpose of the credit paradigm the way it exists now is to RIP YOU OFF. Your credit report is IMPOSED upon you. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE and that is where the imbalance begins. This is a system based on economic violence towards those that don't cooperate, the punishment is being forced to accept crappy outcomes due to their failures, false reports and absolute and utter unwillingness to keep accurate records. Accuracy IS NOT PROFITABLE and that is why credit is a game YOU CANNOT WIN. Ever wonder why the entire economy crashes every few years since they started basing it all on credit and other BS like "consumer confidence" ( whatever the F that means ha ha ha ha ha) it's GAMBLING and it's created by a GAMBLING CLASS OF MILLIONAIRES WHO WANT TO EVEN MORE OF YOUR MONEY.. DON'T FALL FOR THIS FRAUD.. YOU CAN MAKE IT EASILY WITHOUT CREDIT... DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE. ITS ALL BS..

the credit system is fraught with lies, fraud and stupidity, and that's just their side of the equation. it's a rip off pure and simple and the only purpose of the credit paradigm the way it exists now is to RIP YOU OFF. Your credit report is IMPOSED upon you. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE and that is where the imbalance begins. This is a system based on economic violence towards those that don't cooperate, the punishment is being forced to accept sub standard wages, higher rates for goods and services including the food you put on the table to feed you family and they get away with it BECAUSE of their failures, false reports and absolute and utter unwillingness to keep accurate records. Accuracy IS NOT PROFITABLE and that is why credit is a game YOU CANNOT WIN. Ever wonder why the entire economy crashes every few years? Since they started basing it all on credit and other BS like "consumer confidence" ( whatever the F that means) this is because it's based on nothing more than GAMBLING, AND RANDOM CHANCE. Just like Las Vegas, the house always wins and the dealer always gets it back... DON'T FALL FOR THIS FRAUD.. YOU CAN MAKE IT EASILY WITHOUT CREDIT... I've been doing this for years--- If i could get a court order forbidding these white collar criminals from collecting my data, I damn sure would in a New York minute. REMEMBER THIS. THIER BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT PEOPLE STOP USING CREDIT... If enough people just STOPPED using credit, their criminal system would just collapse under the weight of its own corruption....

If you read the article you linked to on Dave Ramseys website you would see when life happens he says to turn to your emergency fund. Money you have saved and set aside for when life happens.

The way you tried to quote him sounds like you are implying he says to use credit in those situations. He never advises debt as a solution to any problem

I stopped using credit cards in 2012. You would be amazed how quickly you can pile up cash in an emergency fund that equals the credit limit on your credit card when you pay yourself those monthly payments instead of a bank.