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You're planning to make a major purchase

"Credit cards offer the strongest protections on purchase disputes," says Gerri Detweiler of Credit.com. If goods or services aren't delivered as stated, the issuer will battle with the merchant on your behalf. Until the problem is resolved, the charge is suspended, and no interest accrues.

With a debit card, however, the money is gone from your account and you have to wrestle the merchant to get your cash back. Your bank may help, but there's no guarantee.

Thus, it's worth using credit if you're about to spend a hefty sum on something -- be it a TV or a home repair -- and especially if you're making the purchase online, where what you see is not always what you get.

Other reasons to use credit for big buys: You may get increased warranty protection and insurance against theft of the item. Use a Visa (V, Forturne 500) credit card, for example, and the manufacturer's warranty may be extended up to a year. Check your card agreement to see what your card offers.

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