Re:Why Germans pay cash for almost everything
by herbst on Tuesday August 08, 2017 @12:36PM
(#14959569)
For me it's a different world anyway. Currently I carry about $300 in 4 currencies, a debit card and a credit card. I travel a lot and without a stack like this I would have been stuck many times.
The credit card never really saved me. It really just is there to make life a little easier.
Re:Why Germans pay cash for almost everything
by alasdair_ on Tuesday August 08, 2017 @02:23PM
(#14960902)
I just got back from a four-country trip (3 currencies) and having a credit card was very useful for hotels and car rental places that want to "pre-authorize" charges (often 250 EUR or more).
When I tried using my debit card and they ended up taking the money and then refunding it over a week later.
Re:Why Germans pay cash for almost everything
by herbst on Tuesday August 08, 2017 @02:51PM
(#14961202)
Good point. I don't drive car but in western countries I basically had to pay the bikes worth as deposit because I didn't carry a credit card. Plus this was seen as super unusual (even having a this high euro amount on hand was seen as suspect)
Personally, the convenience of: not having to wear a wallet at all (I just carry the card in my pocket) and not having to deal with coins, negotiate if I'm paying a big bill etc. is just amazing. Even if someone steals $10 from me once in a blue moon, it's well worth it.