I use a small credit Union, for 30 years, but I also, for years, did not have any kind of cards, I would keep some in savings, but I would use cash to buy USP postal checks to pay bills. I did that for years, being a luddite and all. Credit cards just lure me into that cycle of buying things I want, but don't need, so I stopped, had a small balance, paid it off and did not renew. I do have a debit card from my credit union now, only because it's impossible to travel without one. I buy silver and keep emergency cash at home, which I add to as if it were a saving account. I feel that it is safe. Business like utilities will take a money order same as a check.Only problem not having some credit is if you want to sign up for some utilities, they check credit now, and if there is nothing to check, they can be jerks. It can be done if you are fine with living simply and not buy into the consumerism, it's hard, there's lots of shiny things out there.