Used responsibly, credit cards are an advantage to the consumer. Just be careful. The credit business is highly profitable for the issuing card company, as long as you stay in debt . The combination of interest, cash advance charges, and other fees gives the credit card issuers billions of dollars of profit each year. Billions of your dollars.
Credit holds hidden costs.
Finance charges and interest add substantially to the cost of your purchase, as do late-payment penalties. Credit enables you to take advantage of a good deal. Only if you are able to pay your credit card balance each month does it make sense to buy bargains. Credit helps establish a favorable credit rating. Married women should establish credit in their own name, not just their husband's.