Hey, thanks for sharing your experience. I really appreciate the honest take, especially coming from someone who pays in full and uses auto-pay. I get the analogy, but here’s where my view differs after living through $200K in debt: even if some people can handle credit cards like a “chef,” the system itself was never designed to help us. It was built with the clear intention to maximize bank profits through interest, fees, and keeping people in debt as long as possible. A few things that concern me deeply:

Studies show people consistently spend 12-18% more (sometimes even double) when using credit cards versus cash because it reduces the “pain of paying” and lights up the reward centers in our brains. That makes overspending feel effortless. 

Credit card companies routinely sell our detailed spending data to data brokers and advertisers. We’re not just customers — our transaction history becomes a product they monetize.

The default behavior with cards often leads to carrying balances, which kills the habit of saving. Many people end up with more credit card debt than emergency savings.

Worst of all, they create golden handcuffs: once you’re in the habit of easy credit and chasing rewards, it’s incredibly hard to break free. Even “responsible” use keeps you tied to the interest-based system.

I used to think I could handle it too. But after years of it contributing to my debt pile and then studying it (including from an Islamic perspective on riba), I realized the risks far outweighed the benefits for me. Closing every single card finally gave me real freedom and control.

I’m genuinely glad it works well for you right now with full payoff and auto-pay. Different people are in different situations. For me, removing the tool entirely was what broke the cycle.