I also use one credit card for 90% of my purchases (like the rewards) and a debit card for 9% of my purchases. Even if the purchase is $5, I'll use a credit card. I carry and spend less than $40 a month in cash. All my banking is done on-line. I pay my credit card completely off each month, so there's no finance charges. I only write 2 or 3 checks a year, which is usually for a campground that doesn't accept credit or debit cards.

BTW - Walmart DOES NOT charge to get cash back when making a purchase using a debit card. Same for many grocery stores.

Like you Larry I use cards and online to pay bills. Even though I have my debit card, my bank gives money back if I use it as a credit card. Never do I buy anything with debit. Also have a credit card that pays back money, use it when on the road and pay off at end of month. Works well. Needing cash go to ATM.

Like Larry traveled all over US and Canada with very little cash. Debit and credit card and online banking. Cash back at all big stores when needed.

Your message is a very complete overview of money management while on the road and this is very valuable for folks who are trying to figure out how to continue doing the things that need to be done when full-timing.

larryf wrote:


Not sure which credit card you use, but we also put almost everything on one credit card for the rewards, in this case - "cash back". We use the Pentagon Federal VISA card which gives us 5% back on fuel purchases and 1.25% on everything else and occasionally 2% on selected things like airline tickets. Used to use the USAA card, but learned of the PENFED card on this forum and haven't looked back. We routinely get $8-900 per year back in rebates from them.

For cash, I still use the USAA debit card which gives you up to 10 free ATM withdrawals per month at ANY ATM. (Daughter used it for 5 months in Ecuador with no problems and no additional fees). Also use USAA for all banking online with features such as the ability to use a camera phone to deposit checks.

I find this combination makes us pretty self-sufficient on the road 6 mos./year.

cdrcos wrote:


Need to update the info on the Pentagon Federal Credit Union VISA card: effective 2/1/2012, they will continue to pay a 5% rebate on fuel purchases made at the pump, BUT the are dropping their 1% rebate on everything else to .25%.

Therefore, we will continue to use if for fuel purchases, but revert to our USAA credit card for everything else. And still the USAA debit card for FREE ATM withdrawals.