Debit or Credit?

It is a good idea for the reasons that you mentioned not to leave the choice up to the cashier. Also some banks charge for debit and others will charge you for credit and some not at all. I tend to choose debit when they are undecided because my boss gets a fee for all credit transactions.

Here in Canada, most banks and credit unions, seniors do not get charged a fee for using a debit card. And since as I said, many seniors just use cash or do not have that much in the banks - just enough for rent etc. there is the assumption that they will get out the debit card. Trouble is that each bank has their own time when the fees are no longer taken off, anywhere from 50 up. And sometimes the credit card and the debit card look almost the same, so if the senior has bad eyesight, she might hand the cashier the wrong one.
It is all right with a credit card, but when someone just has enough in the bank for that month, all that money may be taken out.

There is another advantage to using credit rather then debit cards. I subscribe to those free money advice newsletters, and in one the author told that the advantage of credit cards over debit cards in regard to points. Now he was American and I am Canadian, but the principal is the same. If you pay off your accounts each month and if you are out shopping and one time, you buy $40 on a credit card and one time, you only have your debit card, so you buy $40 via the debit card. You both pay them off, but whereas you will get 2 points with your credit card, you will only get 1 point with your debit card. It makes a big difference. and thanks for the best response.