debit cards Archives - Empathic Finance

Is a credit card safer than a debit card?

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on March 12, 2018 | Featured

I recently got some pushback about using debit cards. I always appreciate this. I want ideas to be battle-tested, and I welcome the opportunity to think critically about decisions I’ve made and suggestions I’ve given. I don’t need everyone to … Read More … Read More

Tags: credit cards, debit cards, risk

What payment method(s) to use for bills

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on May 29, 2017 | Featured

Choosing your method of payment for things isn’t as straightforward as you might think. That’s why I created a short guide called “How to spend money“. But I was really just talking about expenses in that post. What about bills? … Read More

Tags: ACH, bill pay, bills, debit cards

A quick primer on obtaining and using foreign currencies when traveling

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on June 27, 2016 | Featured

As I mentioned about tracking expenses when traveling abroad, other countries don’t use US dollars. (I’m joking about this being notable, of course.) But switching between currencies presents some extra challenges and requires extra awareness to prevent getting burned with … Read More … Read More

Tags: ATMs, credit cards, currency, debit cards, foreign currency

Why foreign transaction fees are (annoying but) no big deal

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on March 5, 2015 | Featured

WARNING: This post contains math. Are you old enough to remember travelers checks? When I went on my first trip abroad when I was much younger, that was still the de facto method of using currency when in a … Read More … Read More

Tags: banks, credit cards, debit cards, fees, foreign transaction fees, international travel, travel, travelers checks

Why the Home Depot and Target breaches aren’t an argument for using credit cards

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on September 18, 2014 | Featured

Another month, another major retailer announces that their internal records have been hacked, and their customer credit/debit card accounts stolen. This time it was 60 million accounts, making it the biggest breach ever. I was at dinner the other … Read More … Read More

Tags: credit, credit cards, debit, debit cards, emergency fund, fraud, scam

How to spend money

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on February 17, 2014 | Featured

You grab the items off the shelf and bring them to the counter. You hand them to the cashier, who scans it and then tells you how much it costs. The cashier then looks at you, expectantly. How do … Read More … Read More

Tags: cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, payment

debit cards

Is a credit card safer than a debit card?

What payment method(s) to use for bills

A quick primer on obtaining and using foreign currencies when traveling

Why foreign transaction fees are (annoying but) no big deal

Why the Home Depot and Target breaches aren’t an argument for using credit cards

How to spend money

Empathic Finance - Mike Pumphrey, AFC®

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