Credit cards are a sign of poverty? Now that's a hot take.

I feel in Europe having a credit card means the complete opposite, only "rich" people have credit cards.

I have a credit card, I use it, I pay it off every month. Why am I seen as poor just because I have a credit card? It's just a tool. It spares me from needing to maintain a 10000$ emergency fund in my checking account.

And in post-soviet countries you blink and you owe 15+% interest. I know many people who couldn't meet basic needs and pay a never-ending percentage. Or forgot to close the debt and lost more than ever gained from this tool in one payment. So people who can pay from their pocket just pay from it instead of endlessly tracking the grace period and counting the money.

I don't imply that's the same everywhere. Also probably depends on a local regulation and interest rates.

Also people here don't generally like to owe to somebody, that feels insecure.