5 Reasons Why Using A Debit Card Can Reduce Your Shopping Stress

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Our everyday lives are filled with decisions. Be it what to wear, where to eat, or where to hang out with friends, we spend much of our lives constantly stressing over such choices. 

When it comes to decisions involving money, it can be even more stressful. As adults, we all know that decisions involving money need to be made carefully and with responsibility. But when faced with multiple choices and money decisions, decision fatigue can set in. This decision fatigue may make it harder to exercise self-control or become more impulsive in decision-making.

This is even more likely when we have to shop and spend our money. With more choices comes more stress, and as stress accumulates, we might end up making a purchase that we come to regret later on. While it may not solve all our problems, using a debit card can help take away some of the stress of shopping decisions.

Why a debit card can save you from unnecessary shopping headaches

Debit cards offer convenience and have built-in features that can help you avoid the pitfalls of shopping. Here are a few reasons why you should consider making payments with debit cards a habit:

1. Quick and easy to use

Debit cards are extremely simple to use. With the rise of contactless payment systems, all you need is one tap and you are done. Other conveniences include:

• What you see is what you get. Since the payments are deducted straight from your bank account, you won’t be surprised by any shocking numbers on your final bank statement. 
• No mental math needed. Unlike with cash, you do not have to deal with the hassle of carrying physical currency and the tedious process of calculating your change or extra costs in your head.
• It’s faster. With debit cards, you don’t have to wait long for your credit transaction to be validated.

2. A safer way to pay

Thanks to the always-online nature of our world today, a debit card can be one of the more secure ways to pay. Here’s why:

• Unlike cash, losing your debit card does not mean you are out of luck. Just remember to cancel your debit card via phone or internet and follow up via official channels. There are even banks that offer the option to do so via their mobile app. 
• All spending on debit cards is tracked on your card history. You may be able to get a full refund for any fraudulent purchases made with your card if you report to your bank in a timely manner.
• A PIN requirement for payments over RM250 also reduces your exposure if your card is lost or stolen.

Your finances aren’t the only thing that your debit cards secure. In the aftermath of the pandemic, people have become much more aware about hygiene. As such, contactless payments and transactions now play a big part in our everyday lives. Debit card usage limits contact which helps users stay safe.

3. Exceptional convenience

Digital transactions including card transaction have seen a massive rise in popularity, registering a growth rate of 30.9 percent in 2021. While it will still take some time before we become a truly digital society, it is hard to argue against the level of convenience that debit cards offer when we are at the cashier. 

Carrying a debit card instead of a big wad of cash certainly keeps your wallet lighter and less bulky, as almost all shops today have the option to pay by card. As debit card payments don’t incur merchant charges, most stores can easily offer customers this payment convenience.

With contactless payment, many transactions can now take under 15 seconds. All you need to do is tap your card on the POS terminal. So, you spend less time waiting at checkout counters and stressing over payments for a more productive shopping experience.

4. Reduce impulse purchases

Making an impulse purchase can feel good, but it can result in a severe hit to your budget. The fact that debit cards draw funds directly from your savings and current accounts means that you will naturally be more inclined to be more conservative with your spending.

By using a debit card for shopping, you can only spend what you have so there is less temptation to make unplanned purchases and ensures that you don’t exceed your set budget.

5. Track your spending behaviour

By using funds directly from your bank account, you can track your monthly spending in a few easy steps:

1. Through the card issuer’s website or mobile app, just access the spending history of your cards by month.
2. All your debit card activity is automatically listed on the system. 
3. You can review your spending habits, and make adjustments to your budget based on your financial goals.

Stay in control while shopping with a debit card

Take the stress out of shopping by using a debit card and you never have to worry about late fees, charges and penalties. The fact that the card draws funds directly from your bank account without interest and the built-in spending limit means that users will have greater levels of accountability for their spending. 

So rather than making a habit out of impulse spending, make it a habit to pay with debit!