For both credit and charge card payment methods, consider whether you're likely to forget any of your purchases. If you have trouble remembering purchases you make, it may be better to leave credit cards and charge cards at home and use a different payment method, such as checks, debit cards and cash. Checks are convenient but not always accepted. Also, checks now clear more quickly than in the past. Be sure you have money in your account to cover checks when they are presented for payment.
Debit cards are an electronic equivalent of a check.
Some consumers prefer to use debit cards rather than credit cards because debit cards don't incur interest charges. You should balance your checkbook often to track your checks and debit card purchases, so that you'll know your balance and see where your money goes. Cash is accepted everywhere, and by using it, you'll avoid credit card interest and check-cashing fees. But you can lose cash, and you need to get a receipt as proof of payment. As basic as these ideas sound, they can be effective in helping you make the most of your money, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.