For people who only spend what they have, what is the risk? I don't accrue credit card debt, never have, so I've enjoyed a 2-3% discount on my entire spending history. Over lifetime that will probably amount to a couple of vacations.

>For people who only spend what they have, what is the risk?

there is none. some people are just ideologically opposed to credit cards, like the parent appears to be.

their loss, really. they end up paying a portion of the cost but reap none of the benefits (rewards, additional legal protections)