They're wrong though. I'm not worth much at all, but slowly (and thanks mainly to YNAB) I've managed to build up 5 digits of cash (savings, not folding), rather

They're wrong though. I'm not worth much at all, but slowly (and thanks mainly to YNAB) I've managed to build up 5 digits of cash (savings, not folding), rather than living paycheck to paycheck. This is a huge load of daily stress I used to have that I no longer do. My credit card is for convenience and frequent flyer points, not something I might not eat without. I bought the missus a (6-year-old, boring) car recently, and I did so with a personal loan not because I had to but because I chose to keep the money on hand, and the world is a little shaky right now. I didn't have to accept a lien on the car, and if there were a crunch on my cashflow I can make minimum payments for a while. I don't have "fuck you money", and probably never will, but even this much peace of mind has helped my mental health significantly.