Your money

Can people live without relying on a credit card?


As more cyberthieves steal personal and financial information, can you insulate yourself from the risk of stolen money and identity by giving up credit and debit cards?

Many consumers are rethinking their use of plastic after a massive cyberattack on retailers such as Target Corp. and Neiman Marcus. For most Americans, living without credit and debit cards seems inconceivable. But Brie Hoffman has tried it, and mostly succeeded over the past six years.


“I don’t even miss it,” she said. “There’s a freedom in not having bills.”

A side benefit, Hoffman said, is not getting junk mail. As much as she has enjoyed living mostly off the plastic grid, she doesn’t see herself getting rid of the debit card entirely.

The move away from cards can be made, said Tim Rohrbaugh, chief information-security officer for Intersections Inc., a Virginia-based identity-theft prevention and remediation firm.

“You can live with just cash and live more locally,” Rohrbaugh said. It’s done regularly in rural areas. That means shopping at a local merchant rather than going online. But, Rohrbaugh noted, “There are little difficulties that will just drive you nuts, like renting a car.”

But for some personal-finance experts, making the move away from traditional plastic just doesn’t make sense. “Sure it can (be done). But why would you?” asked Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for


Federal law protects consumers from being responsible for fraudulent transactions on their credit-card accounts.

Some other things sacrificed without a card include not being to pay for something in an emergency and losing out on card-based rewards.

While Hoffman said her decision to ditch credit cards and mostly avoid using a debit card was right for her, “It’s not for everybody.”