For those of you who asked to see my segment that aired on Fox Business on Friday night with John Stossel, they’ve uploaded the clip of my interview to their site here.
And I know this is very controversial subject, so before you jump to conclusions and think that I think everyone should do what I’ve done or that I believe credit cards are evil, be sure to read this followup post I wrote on Why I Don’t Think Credit Cards Are Evil.
Valentine says
Great job! I have followed your blog for many years and you are the only money-saving blog I still follow– you beat out all the rest!
I do want to say while I agree with you that you may feel punished at the store for leading an all-cash life, the phone company is lending you credit by allowing you to pay for the previous month’s service. I would try to find a prepay plan which would not help only solve this issue, but likely be a cheaper price as well so you would actually beat them at their own game! There are so many options out there nowadays that I’m sure one would fit your needs. Clark Howard does a fantastic job keeping the code phone plans info up to date on his website at clarkhoward.com . Good luck!!!
Shannan Seely says
Enjoyed your interview. Thought you were wonderful! Keep it up!
Kristy H says
Great job! I bet this was so eye opening for the viewers to even think of a cash system.
Emily says
Crystal! My first time commenting here…I’ve been following your blog for years though. You did such a great job in your interview. Wishing you many more! I caved in and got a credit card because I had no credit just like you. We almost had a vacation disaster because the rental car company we booked with decided to run my credit even though I could use a debit card to pay. They refused to rent me a car and I could have bought the car from them! We went with another company that took cash and greatfully it went off without a hitch. I never want that to happen again and don’t like being made to feel like a non-person because I don’t have credit. I’m glad you are able to stick to your convictions and be credit card free. That commercial they showed in your interview is so wrong!
Elizabeth says
Watched the clip this evening, Crystal. You did a GREAT job! And you looked so put together and in keeping with the message you embody. You just did a fantastic job and had the whole package put together. So proud of you!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Yolanda says
Wow! I was very surprised when I read your post. I always look at your pictures and notice your beautiful eyes and how great your hair always looks. I have never noticed crooked teeth. Anyone can criticize someone else, that is so easy. It takes a strong person to be happy with yourself and to be confident. Thanks for setting such a good example.
Joyce@My Stay At Home Adventures says
Just watched the clip and honestly if I didn’t know or read your blog I would of thought of that you have done TV many times. What insecurities? 😉
Crystal Paine says
Well, just be glad you didn’t see me the day before. I was pretty much a nervous wreck!
Jenn says
Not only did you do a great job, Crystal, but you looked beautiful!!! Thanks for posting this. I really wanted to see it. I confess we use debit for everything. I tried cash, and really do think we spent less during that time, but I got so frustrated with trying to keep categories straight. I don’t understand how you can go to 1 store where you purchase things from 5 different categories and not mess it all up. Seemed impossible without ringing everything up separately, and that takes way too long. Otherwise you have to know ahead of time what each comes to (with tax), and then if you don’t have the right change in a particular envelope, you’re up a creek. If anyone could solve that for me, I’d probably go back to cash! Any chance you could explain how you handle that? Thanks!
Crystal Paine says
I think that the biggest thing for me is that I just don’t do much shopping. For real. I’m just a big fan of trying to use what we already have and make do for as long as possible. So when I go to the store, it’s usually for a very specific purpose: to buy groceries, to do my twice-yearly shopping trip for clothes for the kids, to buy homeschool curriculum at the homeschool conference, etc. So I don’t usually have to mix and mingle cash accounts. However, if I do, it’s usually no more than two and I just pull cash from both envelopes and use it to pay.
Have you looked at Mint.com, EveryDollar.com, or YouNeedABudget.com — those are like virtual cash envelope systems and might be a good option for you. {We currently use YouNeedaBudget.com and really love it.}
Tshanina says
Thanks so much for sharing this!
You did a fabulous job (and that green is a great color on you). 🙂
Scot says
I watched your interview and I agree with you on many points, but my question is this: Do you have a strong argument against using credit cards if you save up the money so you can pay them off each month? I have been married for more than 23 years, we have always had multiple credit cards, we always pay the full amount due, and thus have never paid a late fee, nor have we paid any interest. We do have a mortgage, but we have several time the amount of the mortgage in our retirement accounts. It seems to me that I live the lifestyle you discuss, but I also have excellent credit, so I can avoid the hassles of a cash only lifestyle.
I would be interested to know if you think that someone like me would benefit from switching to cash only. By the way, my cash back from my credit card is only 1% but $350 a year extra isn’t nothing.
Crystal Paine says
For us, we’ve found very few hassles and so many benefits. However, as I said in the followup article that I linked, I don’t believe that everyone needs to do exactly what we’ve done.
Here are two articles I wrote that you might find helpful as you consider what system and method is best for your family:
http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/05/16/5-ways-a-cash-budgeting-system-will-change-your-life/
https://moneysavingmom.com/2014/11/im-33-years-old-ive-never-credit-card.html
sarah says
You totally rocked that interview. Way to go!
Stacey A says
I think you did great! I love John Stossel and his no nonsense point of views. You make a lot of sense and though we do use credit cards we always pay them off each month. You make a lot of sense and I think there may come a time when we have to go back to cash because of how much debt our country is in. Or worse cash may be worthless in the future but thanks for sharing loved the clip!
Heart and Haven says
I enjoyed your story about going to get the IPhone and not having any credit.
In the 13 years of being a landlord, I’ve only had ONE applicant who didn’t have a credit score…not bad credit, old credit, paid off credit….but truly no score! I was amazed. I had to find an alternative method to judge his “credit worthiness”, which was make even more difficult by the fact he was self-employed (so not even paystubs I could verify). It all worked out, and he’s been a good tenant for five years now 🙂
Stephanie says
Awesome job! You looked very much at ease. Great tips on how to get around using a credit card by paying with cash instead. Best interview that I have seen you in so far!
Carol@simple_catholic says
You didn’t look nervous at all! Great job. I’m glad how you and Stossel pointed out the ridiculousness of that Visa commercial. One of the best things my husband and I ever did was to pay off and cut up all of our credit cards (although we do use debit cards for some purchases, as you mentioned)!
Amber says
Crystal, I’m curious how you travel without using a credit card. Air fate, hotels, rental cars, etc. I always use a cc for those types of things as I’ve heard it isn’t safe to use a debit card online. Just curious, Thanks!
Megan says
I’m curious about this too as virtually all hotels require a credit card swipe for incidentals (as a sort of deposit to ensure you don’t destroy anything or raid the minibar without paying). Maybe some allow you to do a cash deposit instead?
Crystal Paine says
We use a debit card for everything. We have a separate travel debit card that has a much smaller amount on it than our regular debit card and that’s what we use to book travel/travel. We’ve never had an issue.
Nora says
We use a credit card for online purchases and travel purchases. After we spend the money, we send the payment for the charge right away.
Louise says
Great job Crystal! You did so good. Punch that fear in the face! I too tend to be introverted so I can appreciate your bravery. I talk with my hands often too especially when I am nervous. It bothers me that people tend to look at me strangely when I use my hands often during a conversation and that makes me want to go back into my “corner”.
I don’t believe you were making a bad wrap against credit cards as much as you were questioning the ways cash is frowned upon. We pay our cards off every month and I didn’t feel like you were “calling me on the carpet” at all.
Becky says
You were great! You didn’t sound nervous. Thank you for all you do. You are a true blessing 🙂
Denise says
You did great. I was cooking in the kitchen when my husband turned on the interview in the middle. I heard a lovely voice say cash only system and ran into the other room to see if it was you. Then I told him hey, It’s Crystal from that blog I read where I get all those good ideas that you don’t want to hear about. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
That totally cracked me up! Your poor husband! 🙂
Shannon says
I DVR the show and watched it and thought you were fantastic!! It even caught my husbands attention as he was walking past the living room. lol. He stopped and watched you with me! You handled the questions like a pro!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, you’re so sweet! Thank you for your kind encouragement!
Jackie says
Great job! You seemed so natural speaking on camera and you had awesome points! Also, your hair and makeup looked beautiful!!
ann says
I watched the clip on youtube. Don’t normally leave comments, but thought the info. you shared on Stossel’s show was important. The idea to lead a cash only- pay as you go life, is hardly ever heard. I think it helps people to see a true example of someone who can make it and succeed without credit cards.
Good job!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Stephanie says
Great job Crystal! We used to use credit cards for everything for the cash rewards. However, I realized that when you have a balance, even when you pay it off every month (which we did), it’s still a short-term debt. If my husband were to lose his job, we would have to take money from our emergency fund to pay not only our groceries and essentials but also to pay off our credit card balance. Plus there is a psychology to it…people just tend to spend more when it’s plastic. We only use our credit card for online purchases now.
Sheri says
Excellent interview, Crystal! (And great dress!) I’m 36-years-old, and sure wish I would have learned at “7” to pay-cash. I greatly appreciate your honestly, your helpful tips, and your sincerity. You are a blessing!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Missy says
You rocked it! I related to this so much. We use cash as well and there have been several circumstances where we’ve felt punished. ie. buying cars, a house, etc. Also every time I find myself fumbling with cash or change in a long line I think about that commercial. Ugh. Thanks Visa.
D says
I had never seen that commercial before today, but I just thought the barista should have said thank you that they didn’t just lose money on the credit card fees.
Bonnie says
Wow, you did a fantastic job! Well done!
D says
Great interview! I’ve also never had a credit card and my husband and I are debt free now after paying off our mortgage in 5 yrs. Many of my friends comment when they see a house for sale, that I should look at it, but after being debt free for over a year, I really am thankful for having no debt even if a bigger house would have it’s advantages (but these friends also take for granted having a mortgage and I don’t think understand how good it feels and they all live on two incomes vs my family’s one).
D says
Its not it’s
Joy Anderson says
Crystal, I am SO GLAD you shared this clip – I have been looking forward to watching it! And after just reading your previous clip about the comment trolls, I have NO IDEA what they are talking about. You are a beautiful woman with a fabulous smile! ROCK ON cash woman!
Mary says
As far as the phone…I’ve found the AT&T GoPhone plan to be BETTER than the contracts. I pay for my phone’s upfront and only pay $30-45 a months per phone. $30 with no data and $45 with it.
Maria says
Well done, Crystal!
I’m curious, did you get the iPhone?
Sarah says
I love this segment! You really did a great job! Thanks for continuing to inspire me to be smart with my money and try things outside of my comfort zone.
Keelie Reason says
super super happy to see you get to share your convictions on national television. That is so awesome. It’s been really amazing to watch you grow your business since I started following you 6 years ago.
Carol says
Thank you so much for posting this wonderful video.
Kelly S says
Great job! I wouldn’t have known you were nervous at all. 🙂
In high school, we watched John Stossel videos in my Economics class… I don’t think he’s aged a bit! (I’m 29 now!)
We mostly do cash, though we do have a credit card – we’ve never had any debt though (pay to $0 every month). If we put things on the credit card, we remove cash from the appropriate envelope and put into a “deposit” envelope, so we don’t spend it.
Have you ever done a video or photo explanation of how you do cash envelopes? Seeing you hold up the envelope made me think I would like to see how it actually tangibly works for you: how do you remember to always carry cash on you? How do you do it if one purchase comes from multiple categories (like, buying both groceries and clothes at Target)? Would love to hear that someday! 🙂
D says
I know people handle envelopes differently but if I get toilet paper at the grocery store I just take the cash from supplies envelope and put it in the food envelope and if I buy clothes at Target along with supplies, I just bring both envelopes and pull from both. I have been using cash envelopes 7 yrs and haven’t found it hard to remember to bring them on a shopping trip.
Susan says
Great job, Crystal! I’m so glad you posted the link to your segment for those of us that couldn’t watch it when it aired. You looked so comfortable and didn’t miss a beat responding to his remarks and comments. You made it look so easy. I can’t even imagine being under that much pressure to speak on television!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Lisa-Jo says
Oh you are so wonderfully endearing in this clip – fantastic job!
Crystal Paine says
Girl, you’re so sweet! Thanks for being my cheerleader!
Erin says
Good job, Crystal. You seemed very at ease chatting with John Stossel, as if you do this every day. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Aw, you’re so sweet! He was so kind and generous off camera… which I thought was very impressive considering he’s been in media for 40 years!