What things you buy with a credit card check and cash?

I use credit cards for household items, clothing, some medical co-payments at the doctors office, prescriptions, gas, auto repair, dining out, gifts, and a long list of miscellaneous items. I use credit cards for items that cost more than the amount of cash that I'm comfortable carrying around (I carry about 20-50 dollars). With the exception of gas for the car (a tankful now costs more than the cash that I carry) and an occasional dinner out (because it's not that often and that also costs more than the cash I carry), I never, ever charge anything that will be gone by the time the bill comes. I never charge a costly item until I have enough in savings or checking to cover it; charging those items is for convenience. By charging only what I can pay off, I never, ever pay credit fees.

I use checks (hand written, not on line) for bill paying (including credit cards), groceries, deposits to savings accounts. I rely on savings accounts because I pay off all credit card balances every month. If I've charged something very costly, I transfer the correct amount back into checking.

I use cash for occasional grocery items (stopping for milk or something to go with dinner, etc.), beverage or food eaten on the go or lunches for work, the dollar store, and anything else I may be picking up that costs about 5.00 or less.

Follow these rules for using credit and savings and, except for real emergencies, you'll never be in debt. If you are hit with an expensive emergency, such as medical, home repair, or major auto repair and must charge the cost, from that point, don't use that credit card for anything else (no misc.) or you will never get that debt paid off. If you don't have another credit card to use for everything else, get another one that you will be able to still pay off every month so you won't have to pay credit fees on anything but that emergency expense. And pay that off as quickly as you are able, not just the minimum. You never know when the next emergency will hit.