@KNOWITALL I have been a no debt minded person before there was a “Dave Ramsay” and I always used credit cards for everything since my early 20’s.
Holding onto your money longer and getting a percentage cash back will give you more money.
Dave Ramsay is focusing on an audience that thinks debt is normal, and who are accustomed to thinking in terms of monthly payments and not how much things really cost them. His assumptions are a lot of people will overspend, and also that people don’t really do the math when they pay annual fees for credit cards that lure you in with points or other benefits. Plus, he knows people function under a lot of destructive myths about credit scores. He’s not wrong, but for people who can evaluate the math, know what really affects credit scores, and do always pay their balance in full, those people are financially ahead using the cards.
If we got rid of credit cards altogether the population as a whole would benefit, because in the end the credit card companies are making money, which means it costs the public money. Credit cards aren’t going away so since they are here to stay in very wide use in the US the people who use the benefits to their advantage are ahead of the game.
I can understand why some people feel it’s just easier to only use “cash” and not worry about making a few dollars here and there though. I do that in little ways, like not opening a credit card every time I can get 20% off in a department store for opening a new card. I don’t want to keep track of another card or worry about cancelling it.