Would you credit it?

Your choice of plastic can have an impact on safer shopping, as well as your credit rating and budgeting, writes personal finance adviser Paul Merriman of AskPaul.ie

Shoppers on South King Street, off Grafton Street in Dublin 2Maura Hickey

Online shopping is growing dramatically in Ireland. Some 94 per cent of internet users here shop online, and the growth in online spending is outpacing general consumer spending: up by 13 per cent in the past two years, compared with a 9 per cent increase in overall spending.

Online and remote shopping over the phone make bank cards practically essential. Getting a credit ...