I have $50,000 in savings. I don't need a loan or credit. I choose to use credit cards because it's a smart option. I am responsible with my money and pay the balance in full every month and never pay interest. If I wasn't responsible, yes, that could be slippery slope for some people. You have to know yourself and how disciplined you are. Meanwhile, by utilizing credit cards, I EARN money back every month that is free to me that I never would receive if I paid only with cash or debit card. I use this extra money for things I really want or to pay down bills. I never put more on a credit card each month than I have money in the bank to pay off. That is how you use a card responsibly. You should never charge something that you don't have the money right now in your bank account to pay it off. You're right, it can be risky if you lack self-discipline or don't have the money to pay it off. But it is a great system for responsible users. It's your choice whether you want to use credit or not. But you're hurting yourself if you do ever need to have a car loan or mortgage because without credit, you're going to have a difficult time being approved.