When my wife and I got married she began buying most if not all the groceries. She would go once or twice a week, buy what she wanted and put on the “card,” debit and credit.

First I started looking back at the end of the month and looking at what we were spending on groceries, and honestly, it shocked me. So I made a deal with her, I asked her to use cash for two months and see what happened. If it was too much of an inconvenience or just wasn’t working we would forget the idea. So every two weeks I took out cash and gave her to spend on the groceries.

The results: 14-29% less than when using the “card.” Consistently less every two weeks!
I can’t explain it, but I can certainly see the evidence!

If I have cash then I can always stop in the vending machine and get a soda…not so with a credit card.

I treat my credit card like a debit card because I only buy within my budget and send the payment off for the purchase within a week of buying something. There are a lot more opportunities to spend cash than there are to swipe a card.

At work there are always have children asking me a for a quarter or someone is always selling cupcakes or greeting notes for 50 cents. My response of ‘I don’t carry cash’ has saved me from being constantly bombarded by requests for money.

Credit cards rule..if you have the discipline to work with them responsibly.