I only use my debit card for online transactions. I put dough on the debit account usually a few minutes before I actually run the charge. Everything else I pay cash. Everything. As for college, the military is still an excellent option. If you know what trade you want to go into on the civilian market and test high enough to get in on the asvab, you get it. You then transition into the national guard and get free state college/university with gi bill. Plus real work experience that's better than any ivy league education.