Credit cards themselves are pretty neutral. It's how we use them that can help or hurt us. There are some benefits to using credit. 1) They can be more convenient than cash or debit. 2) If lost or stolen, your credit card company will usually cover any transactions you didn't make. 3) Some cards have rewards associated with them, like cash back or airline miles (Beware though: Rewards cards generally have higher interest rates, so make sure you pay them off each month so you reap the rewards without paying the price). 4) Credit cards do help to build a strong credit score when used correctly. And a strong credit score means you are more likely to get loans and credit offered to you at a lower interest rate.