I'm 36, so I'm between Gens X and Y. I have a credit card but only for things like plane tickets, or online purchases from other countries where I can't use my debit card (rare). Otherwise I always use my debit card because then I only spend money that I have, it goes directly from my account, and we can keep track.

I don't know why anyone would use a credit card regularly.

I'm a Boomer, so I'm pre-Gen X. I used to use a debit card regularly for the same reason that NicoleK says above. But then I heard that in case of fraud, while credit cards and debit cards have the same level of liability and protection, with credit cards there is much less impact while the problem is being resolved.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/alpha-consumer/2009/08/18/fraud-protection-debit-versus-credit-cards

So I have one credit card from the same bank where my accounts are, use it for almost everything, and pay the balance every two weeks. I use cash anyplace where the credit card would have to leave my sight, like at a restaurant.

I use credit cards for our regular expenses and pay them off every month. My toys come out of my allowance in cash. If is something I'm buying online, I actually put the money back into the bank, order what I want, and pay the bill when it comes in. Somehow, that keeps me from buying a lot of things I don't really need but could use.

I don't know of anyone who has a wallet full of cards these days -- but part of the reason is that there's simply no need to have a lot of cards anymore. Back in the day, a lot of department stores had their own cards that offered discounts and better terms. But in the '90s, department stores started to regard their credit cards as pure profit; the advantages of using their card vs. a big-bank card disappeared, so everyone dropped them. (There were a couple of scandals too; I vaguely recall one store chain getting in a lot of trouble for systematically charging higher than the stated rate on interest.) Plus, there just aren't as many department stores around these days.

Oil company cards have disappeared too. Back in the day, lots of people had them, for the same reasons as the department store cards. But, likewise, the advantages disappeared. Also, there was that period in the '80s when most gas stations were offering discounts for cash; that wiped out a lot of oil companies' credit card programs. I've seen recently where Shell is trying to re-start theirs.

Finally, there's the bit that there are Internet outfits, notably Amazon, which offer revolving credit without the physical card. I wouldn't be surprised if a fair number of those people who swear up and down that they have no credit cards are actually using Amazon credit.

who studies psychology at Ohio State University

I have questions.

1. How much student loan debt have you piled up already?
2. When will you graduate? how much more debt will you pile up before you finish?
3. Will you be able to get a job with your degree after graduate, or will you need to go on for more advanced degree(s)?
4. What additional debt will you accumulate pursuing that advanced degree(s)?
5. When you do actually get a job, what is your initial salary going to look like? will you be able to pay your loans and and live in a reasonable manner?

You're wise not to have a credit card, I'm thinking you're already piling up debt beyond your means. Like our lovely hostess, I pay my card off in full every month. It is essentially a check card, without direct access to any money.

Good for them; whatever works.

I use a credit card because the year-end statements are invaluable at tax time, and because airline/Amazon/ThankYou points add up very quickly. But I pay off the personal and business-personal cards in full each month.

Amy Dacyczyn pointed out in "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" that credit cards are good when emergencies strike. Also, it's good to have a credit record. Plus, in my case, if I didn't use it at least once a month, they would shut down my account. (It happened once.)

You need a credit record. Get a card, charge about a hundred dollars per year, and pay immediately - your credit will look good, barring other debt.

Back in the day, I did not have a card. My company sent me across country, and rented a car for me. At the airport, the car rental company refused to allow me to have a car because I did not have a card, made no difference that the rental was in the company name and on its line of credit.

I use a credit card for every possible purchase and pay it off in full every month. I don't find it hard at all to not buy things I don't have money for. I'm not Ivanka Trump.

I'm piling on huge amounts of miles on my one CC to use for vacation time too.

I do not use credit cards. I have a home equity line of credit if I need more than I have floating around in my accounts. I try to pay cash for everything except groceries and gas, which go on a debit card. I don't travel so it has not been an issue with hotels or rental cars.

I used to have a few credit cards. No more. I am simplifying my life. We paid off the mortgage and have no debt. That's right, none. I keep cash on hand and otherwise stay on my rather strict budget. I have money in savings and pay cash for everything from lunch to vehicles.

If something changes, we shall reconsider.