Today, more than ever, consumers are using debit cards; as a matter of fact, they are swiftly becoming the payment of choice over checks (so 1900's), cash, or credit cards. They have the advantages of credit cards as you don't have to write checks all over town (increasing your exposure to identity theft) or carry a ton of cash. They also have the advantage over credit cards in that they won't put you into debt, unless, you overdraw your checking account and incur overdraft fees.