<prompt> Human: Ive never had a credit card. Never needed one. When I was poor, I just acted poor. When I couldnt afford something, I didnt get it. When I wanted something, I saved up for it. Thankfully, I had no tragedies that required me to save myself with one.While I understand using them responsibly and paying them off every month, Im surprised to see how many people here advocate using them. Whats the deal?My wife and I took a Dave Ramsey class and while of course we didnt buy everything he said, we really seemed to like the bit about living debt free. We both have student loans and a home loan but then nothing else. Ramsey mentioned that when you do eventually lose your credit score not as in 0 but as in, it doesnt exist anymore there is paperwork a few banks will give you that will assist you in getting a home loan. Has anyone out there done it this way?Discuss!! And thanks!Assistant: Im surprised to see how many people here advocate using them. Whats the deal?Why is it surprising? Just because Dave Ramsey doesnt like them? When you have no annual fee, 1-5 back on certain categories and pay them off in full every month they can be part of an arsenal of useful financial tools.Human: From most financially-gifted people Ive talked to in the past have agreed that debt is evil. Until this subreddit, I hadnt heard anyone recommend using one in this way. Like ever. So its different. I dont disagree with you all, Im just working through it.  <response>: most financially-gifted people Ive talked to in the past have agreed that debt is evilTo me, they dont sound very financially enlightened, especially calling all debt evil.Debt and credit are just tools, they are not inherently good nor bad. They can be used wisely or they can be used foolishly. There are certainly a lot of people out there using debt irresponsibly, but a lot people out there use all sorts of things irresponsibly.People like Dave Ramsey play to an audience of complete newbies and people that have dug themselves into big shitty financial holes. It is very understandable to tell this audience to avoid debt and credit until they get a better grasp on finances and until they are in a more stable financial situation. A lot of Dave Ramsey material is like remedial personal finance, like not-even-101 level. A lot of his advice is not necessarily optimal, but it is very accessible and good for a certain audience. But once you are responsible with your finances I think a lot of his advice is actually quite short sighted.And about credit cards specifically, no one in PF with positive karma has ever advocated for carrying a credit card balance or paying a single penny in interest. If you dont pay off your credit card statement balance in full, every month, no exceptions you are doing it wrong. Barring some cataclysmic, extremely unlikely chain of events there is practically zero reason to ever carry a balance on a credit card. Thats what a large cash buffer for unexpected expenses or emergencies is for, and is why it is the number 1 priority for any person and you will see that repeated over and over and over again in PF.Used responsibly, credit cards offer a number of advantages that have already been touched on by others in this thread so I wont list them again here. 