Debit cards are a common form of payment today, and with good reason too. Aside from UPI, these cards offer the most stress-free and convenient way of paying for purchases. On the downside, its frequent usage causes people to make common debit card mistakes. Many of these mistakes, if not rectified, can lead to huge losses for card owners. With that in mind, here are some of the mistakes to avoid with debit card usage:

Failing to pay attention to one’s debit card balance
Debit purchases take out money directly from one’s savings accounts. So, it is wise to keep track of how much money is left in one’s savings account before and after they use their debit card to make a purchase. If someone does not do so and uses their card to make a payment of $200 unbeknownst to the fact that their account only contains $190, then their transaction gets “bounced.” In such cases, people may face legal consequences and severe penalties.

Using debit cards for ultra-expensive purchases
Credit cards are the better option as compared to debit cards in some cases. If users purchase expensive items that they may need to return in the future, then using a credit card enables them to immediately file a claim with their card issuer and get their money returned on their card right away. Debit cards do not come with this feature, and users may have to wait days, if not weeks, to get refunds in some cases.

Using the ATM regularly
Unlike what many people may believe, taking out money from the ATM is not a free service. Different banks tend to levy their own ATM rates. Some users do not notice this charge and continue to use their debit cards and ATMs to make purchases frequently. Unfortunately, the ATM charges keep piling up and, by the end of a year or two, one may not even realize that they have spent hundreds of dollars on the same.

Writing one’s PIN down and carrying it with them
The PIN code of a debit card is the literal key to all the money in the cardholder’s savings account. So, one must avoid writing it down or sharing it with anyone but their most trusted people. If scammers get their hands on this PIN, then individuals stand to lose all their hard-earned money in no time.