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For people who enjoy shopping and don't like to carry cash, credit cards are the perfect solution. They are thin plastic cards issued by banks based on a person's credit background and their financial status. Using the credit card one can make purchases of high value, without wondering if there is enough money in their bank account. Most of the stores today accept cards, and have realized that people rarely carry cash on them. This holds for groceries and household items as well. At times the card holder might have an account with the bank and there are some who simply use the credit card issued by the particular bank.

Credit cards have created a revolution. Today, there is not a soul who does not possess a card or who is unaware of its benefits. It has made life easier. Gone are the days of clunky coins and wads of currency notes making your pockets, wallets and purses heavy. Today, you can get away with waving plastic at check out counters. And then there are so many providers of plastic money who seem eager to pre-approve. All this makes shopping really convenient for the responsible buyer. And "responsible" is the operative word here. Plastic money does not create wealth. Remember that you have to repay your borrowing. Spending money on plastic should be as painful and guilt-inducing as spending currency notes. It is now possible for everyone to afford products and services which were earlier beyond their reach. A few of the benefits of credit cards are mentioned below:

1. Convenience -- The credit card is a boon for those who travel frequently or enjoy shopping. There is no need to carry huge amounts of cash and be worried about its safety. Since most leading shops and restaurants accept cards; life on the move becomes easier. MasterCard and Visa are cards that are accepted worldwide and can be used at any store or hotel to pay bills.

2. Payment options -- Using the credit card means making payments at leisure, and this gives users the advantage of rotating their funds and making provision for all expenses. They can shop for an expensive article today and not be worried about payment for another 45days. Also the user can spread the payments and make them over a long duration instead of in one shot. These cards are very different from the debit card in the aspect that when a charge card or debit card is used, money is drawn directly from the bank account and transaction processed only if there are adequate funds. However, in the case of credit cards, there is no connection with the bank account.

3. Incentives and perks -- Credit card companies compete with each other in providing various perks and benefits to its users. There are points accumulated for every purchase made which can be redeemed for converted into equivalent cash. This can be used for further shopping or as flight tickets if the points are converted into miles.