Dave is fine for people who have no clue and no self-control. His one-size fits all approach, because he himself has gone bankrupt (twice?) is where he loses me. I also remember that Dave is selling you a product - the no CC do as I say product. I have nearly 30 years of history using a credit card responsibly. Between business and personal my points generate $7-10K per year in points that get deposited into my ROTH IRA and they will literally generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in returns for stuff I would buy anyway over the next 30 years.