Not exactly, I have a debit/bank card and a Kohl's card that's shared with my mom. I use it to gain credit and if i use it there i either go pay it right off or i pay my mom right back.
I am thinking I may get a credit card with low interest and a low amount to have, just in case. I commute about an hour and a half to school so it might be good.

I find credit cards to be extremely useful and I use my credit card whenever I can, but I have to maintain spending + REPAYING discipline.

Quick horror stories about spending + repaying discipline - I keep remembering a story about a friend who for some reason spent indiscriminately and only paid the mininum amount- eventually accumulating a five-digit debt.  The friend now owes siblings big time, but he's a very lucky case.  Another friend works at a call centre and all day long he listens to people crying and begging for help on their debts.  Definitely, there is a downside to credit cards, as that is all the financing a lot of people are able to use.

However, in my case it has been good because it allows temporary use of credit card company money - so you can gain a bit of interest on your cash while you wait for the payment date.  Also, I dread having to carry cash with me.  What if I drop a bill or get robbed?  Unlike a credit card, I can't call someone to cancel my cash.

In addition, in a TV interview I realized that there are benefits in terms of returns of defective merchandise.  If there is a problem the credit card company will deal with it.  But stuff like that you need to read in the details when you shop around for a card.

Also, you can gain a minimal benefit if your card features points or "cash back".  Just don't go around buying stuff just to get points - that's just not worth it.  I use a crappy "cash back" card because I feel it isn't worth the time to accumulate thousands of points for a crappy toasting machine.

The time comes when one needs a good credit rating.. And like has been mentioned, no credit cards, no credit rating. You really need it, unfortunately, in today's society.  It doesn;t have to be used.  Just have for emergencies, if thats the way one wants to go.

Yup - but I never put anything on it that I couldnt pay for in cash! 

The trick is to use it for the rewards and still stick to your budget!

@believeindreamz@xanga - make sure you are actually responsible for the Kohl's card and arent just 'an authorized user' otherwise it will do nothing for your credit.  Debit cards dont usually count either.

yes and i use them whenever i can cause i can collect points.