Make money work for you!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Budgeting
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

5 Places to Avoid Using Your Debit Card and 3 Safe Spots

February 8, 2026 · Personal Finance

Close-up of a credit card and debit card on a wooden surface.

Your debit card is likely the most convenient tool in your wallet. It grants you instant access to your cash, helps you avoid debt, and works almost everywhere. But that direct link to your checking account is exactly what makes it dangerous.

When a criminal steals your credit card information, they are spending the bank’s money. When they steal your debit card information, they are spending your money. According to a 2025 report by FICO, debit card compromises at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals remain a persistent threat, with over 231,000 cards compromised in the U.S. alone during the previous year.

Beyond fraud, using a debit card in the wrong place can tie up your actual cash with “holds” that last for days, potentially causing overdrafts or leaving you unable to pay other bills. To protect your hard-earned money, you need to know where to swipe and where to think twice.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 comments on “5 Places to Avoid Using Your Debit Card and 3 Safe Spots”

  1. motrin says:
    February 22, 2026 at 12:28 am

    you pushed everyone once to use debit cards, and now you claim there not that safe, well nothing electronic is safe for there is always someone who will steal
    the good old dollar was the safest, cash out cash back

    Reply
  2. Larry Brungardt says:
    February 14, 2026 at 4:01 pm

    The CARD PREMIUM BANK ACCOUNT I HAD OPEN SINCE 2023 HAD MY RETIREMENT two FUNDS DEPSITED EVERY MONTH> I HAD an incident FEW years even before the Card account where when I applied for my TSA pass The agent left his lap top in the back seat of his car. Theieves brke into his car stole his lap top sold all my TSA information on the Dark webb. I filedpolice report all three credit bureas. but card has never told me there rerason for a denial of 805.13 wiping out my account they first reimbused me then I filed a dispute form talked to them on phone several times They have yet to giveme a reason for the denial. I then taked to the person assigned to me to protect all the fraud they tell him my account was used illegally in 2025 then the 805.13 they credited me they took back becaise of a 2025 so called incident. So because some criminal used my account they are okay for a charge of 805.13 charge to a China calling iktself OCOXTECH HONG KONG That amount just was about all tghe money I had in there clearly a case of Fraud 1) i never buy from China and in the three years nevr ever had a charge for over 800 to any company let alone in China They punish the victim here wehich is so wrong

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • An older man sitting at a sunlit kitchen table, marking dates on a paper calendar next to a coffee mug. Social Security Updates Taking Effect in July 2026 - What Retirees Should Expect
  • A close-up photograph of a hand in a flannel sleeve pumping gas into a green car at a quiet station during a misty dawn. The Worst Time to Fill Up Your Tank - and the Better Days to Buy Gas
  • A warm, candid photo of a smiling senior woman at a market checkout counter, handing a canvas bag to a cashier in soft morning light. The Best Retail Discounts Available to Seniors
  • An elegant watercolor and ink illustration depicting stylized plants representing different income streams like fixed income and dividends. The Supplemental Income Sources Available Today
  • An older woman sits thoughtfully at her kitchen table looking at a paper bill in warm afternoon light. What a Smaller COLA Could Mean for Your Budget
  • Gouache illustration of a couple nurturing a golden plant protected by a glass dome labeled Tax-Free Shield. The Retirement Planning Move That Pays Off Later
  • A retired couple confidently reviews financial documents together in their sunlit, cozy living room. How to Protect Your Retirement Income From Inflation
  • A stylized risograph illustration of a giant red balloon with a percent sign pulling a shopping cart upward as a person tries to hold it dow What Happens If Inflation Keeps Rising?
  • The Retirement Income Mistake That Could Cost You Thousands The Retirement Income Mistake That Could Cost You Thousands
  • An older couple sitting at a wooden kitchen table reviewing their finances with a calculator and bank statements in warm morning light. Could Your Social Security Check Change Next Year?

Newsletter

Get money-saving tips and personal finance advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

A person in their late 50s thoughtfully reviews Social Security paperwork at a sunlit kitchen table with a laptop and coffee.

Social Security Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands in Retirement

Learn about the costliest Social Security mistakes retirees make, from triggering earnings limits to miscalculating…

Read More →
credit card scams social security

10 Ways to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is one of the most common financial burdens in the United States,…

Read More →
retirement stats

5 Alarming Retirement Stats You Need to Know

Hands holding a calculator and a handwritten list of monthly bills illustrate the reality of…

Read More →
A hand holding an opened chocolate bar with large empty spaces in the tray on a kitchen counter next to a grocery bag.

8 Everyday Products That Quietly Shrank Without Most Americans Noticing

Discover the 8 everyday consumer products that recently shrank in size and learn practical shopping…

Read More →
A senior couple sitting at a kitchen table reviewing tax paperwork and holding a state rebate check in the morning light.

10 State Tax Rebates and Stimulus Checks Coming to Seniors

Discover the top 10 state tax rebates, stimulus checks, and property tax relief programs available…

Read More →
cheaper clothes

9 Efficient Tips to Save Money on Clothes

While it’s completely understandable to feel the need to shop for new clothes every season,…

Read More →
cheapest gas

Where to Find the Cheapest Gas in the US! Top 6 States

A driver fills their tank at a budget station, keeping a close eye on the…

Read More →
Social Security

Can You Live on Social Security Alone in 2025?

As millions of Americans near or enter retirement, one crucial question continues to dominate the…

Read More →
A mixed media collage of household items like an RV, medical gear, and tools, featuring a central hand holding a 'Rented' tag.

8 Household Items Retirees Are Renting Instead Of Buying

Discover why retirees are choosing to rent RVs, medical equipment, power tools, and more to…

Read More →
The Money Place

Make money work for you!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Trust & Legal

  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Request to Know
  • Request to Delete
  • CA Private Policy

Categories

  • Budgeting
  • Personal Finance
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

© 2026 The Money Place. All rights reserved.