| Over the years the UK has become a nation that | | | | - Being able to purchase items and enjoy interest free |
| pretty reliant on paying for purchases on plastic, | | | | credit for a specified period |
| whether debit or credit card, saving us the hassle of | | | | - Being able to spread the cost of purchases over a |
| having to carry cash around, make countless | | | | long period |
| withdrawals from cash machines, or write out one | | | | - Being able to enjoy credit up to your specified limit |
| cheque after another to make purchases. | | | | making it easier to buy the things you want without |
| Paying by card for purchases is a very convenient | | | | having to wait and save up |
| and easy way to shop, and save you both time and | | | | - Being able to benefit from rewards (subject to card |
| hassle. Paying by card also makes it easy to make | | | | used) such as cash back, rewards points, or air miles |
| purchases online or by phone, both of which have | | | | - Great choice of cards to suit most needs and |
| become popular ways to shop for anything from | | | | circumstances, including for those with poor credit to |
| groceries and holidays to clothes, gifts, and more. | | | | help them to rebuild their credit |
| When it comes to which card to use for making | | | | Cons of credit card use |
| purchases preferences can differ from one consumer | | | | - The risk of getting into high levels of debt that |
| to another, and there are pros and cons to using both | | | | becomes unmanageable |
| debit and credit cards. Both offer ease and | | | | - Risk of credit card fraud |
| convenience, but there are some points to consider | | | | - Being charged often high interest rates on balances |
| when deciding whether you are better off shopping | | | | that are not paid in full each month |
| with a credit card or a debit card. | | | | Debit cards |
| Credit cards | | | | Debit cards are usually issued by your bank, and these |
| Credit cards enable the consumer to enjoy credit up to | | | | enable you to enjoy the convenience and ease of |
| a specified limit, and depending on the card can also | | | | using plastic to pay for purchases, but you must have |
| offer other benefits such as extended interest free | | | | the necessary funds already in your account before |
| periods, purchase protection, rewards points, cash | | | | you can spend on your debit card. You can enjoy |
| back, and more. | | | | some benefits with your debit card such as extended |
| Pros of credit card use | | | | purchase protection and emergency card replacement, |
| - Being able to pay for purchases without carrying | | | | although you should check the terms attached to your |
| around cash or writing cheques | | | | particular bank in order to see exactly what sort of |
| - Being able to shop online or by phone | | | | benefits you have. |