When shopping (online or in stores), use credit cards, not debit cards.
1) Debit card fraud is much tougher to fight and takes much longer to resolve than credit card fraud.
2) If you have a problem with the product/service that you purchase, credit cards offer a much better dispute resolution process (especially American Express, who almost always takes the side of the buyer)
3) Many credit card issuers provide some type of “low-price guarantee” where if you find the same item advertised for a lower price at another store, your credit card company will match that price
Now, the obvious downside to using your credit card over your debit card is that you need to be able to manage your credit card debt…make sure that just because you are using one card instead of another, that you don’t start spending more money. Treat your credit card as if it were a debit card, making sure not to spend any more money than you have in your bank account and make sure to pay off the card in full each month in order to avoid finance charges and other fees.
