Credit cards have many benefits over a cash-based lifestyle. They offer convenience and more security for example. But sometimes we get so used to whipping out a card everywhere we go that we start to take them for granted. It’s time to gain a better appreciation of your credit cards. And to do that, I issue you a challenge — leave your credit cards at home!

Whether you can manage it for a week or only a day, give the cash-based lifestyle a try. Notice the differences between that and credit card spending by taking the card option away for a brief period. Why? Because being fully conscious of your spending behaviours is always a good thing.

How Using Cash Can Make You Better Appreciate Your Credit Cards

1. One of the biggest perks of credit cards is the convenience factor. They’re quick and easy to use. You don’t have to lug around a wallet full of cash. You don’t have to count anything out before paying at your favourite store. Go “old school” for a few days and get a better feel for how much time your credit cards can really save you.
2. When you go back to cash temporarily you’ll also come to appreciate how much time automatic record keeping with credit cards can save. Do you miss being able to log into an account to view your statement and track transactions?
3. Keep a limited amount of cash with you and make some of your usual purchases — like groceries. Only carry enough cash for items on your list. Do you miss the spending power of credit cards that lets you adjust your list on-the-fly? Or does using cash perhaps highlight usual bad behaviour of making a lot of impulse purchases when you have the available credit limit on your card at your fingertips?

Building a greater appreciation for your credit cards isn’t just about noticing the benefits. It’s also about paying more attention to how you really use them. And sometimes the best way to do that is to take them away.

So go ahead. Stop using your credit cards for a short period of time if you can bear it. In what ways do your credit cards benefit you the most? Are you getting the most out of them or are there features and benefits you aren’t taking advantage of yet? Does going without credit cards help you identify potential problems with your typical spending habits when you use your cards? The best way to find out is to put yourself to the challenge. But if you really can’t stand the idea of going even a day without your credit cards, at least try to be more conscious of how you use them and how they affect you on a daily basis.