As a credit card expert, here are 7 scenarios where I ditch my card in favor of other payment options

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• I have over 20 credit cards and use them for almost every purchase to earn valuable rewards and take advantage of purchase protections.
• There are some situations where it just doesn't make sense to use a credit card, so I use cash or debit instead.
• It's sometimes cheaper, more secure, or more private to pay with cash.
• Read Insider's guide to the best cash-back credit cards.

With over 20 credit card accounts to my name, I use a credit card to pay for almost every purchase I make. This approach serves me well, as transacting with the best credit cards helps me earn valuable rewards, and offers benefits and protections I wouldn't get from other payment methods.

But years of swiping, tapping, and inserting my cards have taught me that, despite those advantages, there are times when I'm better off not paying with plastic. Here are seven scenarios where I recommend looking for an alternative.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

1. To pay less

I believe that price is almost always negotiable, and one strategy I use to talk sellers down is to find ways to save them money. With credit card processing fees often exceeding 3%, paying in cash is an easy way to cut transactional costs, and many sellers are content to pass those savings on to me.

This approach isn't worthwhile on small purchases, and I avoid paying in cash for transactions I might want to reverse (like clothing or electronics I may change my mind about). But processing fees provide leverage for negotiating with small retailers and independent service providers like auto mechanics, petsitters, or general contractors.

2. To not pay more

Similar to pursuing cash discounts, I also try to avoid credit card surcharges. Processing fees are baked into most retail prices, so even though we technically pay more for the option to use a card (whether we use one or not), the difference isn't charged separately. However, some vendors make that cost explicit by tacking on a fixed fee or percentage of the transaction to credit card payments.

When faced with these surcharges, I evaluate whether the extra cost is outweighed by the rewards and other benefits I get from paying by card. I'm more likely to accept a 3% surcharge if I'm using a card that earns 5% cash back, getting purchase protections such as an extended warranty, or if I simply want the convenience of not carrying cash. But when those factors aren't in play, a debit card is a handy substitute.

3. To safeguard personal information

After using a credit card to make a charitable donation years ago, the charity began sending me a steady stream of letters asking for more money. I hadn't signed up for a membership or contact list, but they scraped my name and address from my billing info and subscribed me to future mailings anyway. They also shared my data with other charities, so soon I was dumping half a novel worth of donation requests in my recycle bin each week.

After that experience, I began using prepaid debit cards to make charitable contributions instead. Those cards can be registered to virtually anyone, so I fabricate the name and address rather than use my own. I like to imagine that somewhere in rural Kansas is a confused postmaster who wonders why mail keeps showing up for a guy named Super Mario at a non-existent address on Rainbow Road.

4. To keep transactions private

My parents were enthusiastic gift-givers when I was young, and they loved spoiling me and my brothers as well as each other on birthdays and other holidays. They also loved adding the element of surprise to their gifts, so they went to great lengths to keep presents secret, disguising shopping trips as "errands" and hiding purchases where their snooping kids wouldn't find them.

They were mostly successful at preserving the mystery for us boys, but less so with each other. Since my dad managed the family's finances, he was the primary cardholder on their credit card accounts and was meticulous about reviewing statements before paying bills each month. This meant he saw every purchase made on my mom's authorized user credit cards, and he had a pretty good sense of which ones were meant for him, though he did a good job of acting surprised.

The takeaway is that if you want to keep your purchases private, then don't use a credit card (or any payment method) with a transaction history accessible to others.

5. To avoid getting scammed

Many credit card scams involve cardholders being victimized after willfully handing over their card or account information. One common example is card skimmers, which thieves use to capture data they can use for fraudulent purposes later. Having your card skimmed is a hassle, but with most credit cards offering zero-liability protection, it shouldn't cost you dearly.

A friend of mine encountered what appeared to be a more insidious (and potentially costly) scam in Tokyo, where a bar he visited attempted to charge his card a second time for an exorbitant amount. His original tab was only around $30, but the second charge was for over $1,000. Fortunately, he kept his receipt from the first (legitimate) transaction, and the card issuer sided with him when the bar could not produce a signed receipt for the second (fraudulent) one.

There's no one-size-fits-all solution to this kind of fraudulent activity — my friend had no reason to suspect any wrongdoing until well after the fact. But if you find yourself in circumstances that set your spidey senses tingling, consider paying in cash to make yourself less vulnerable. Scammers can charge your credit card as many times as they want, but they can only pocket your cash once.

6. To buy cash equivalents 

Many credit cards offer cash advances, which allow you to borrow cash against your credit limit. Cash advances can be useful in a pinch, but they can also be costly, as card issuers charge fees on top of high interest rates that begin accruing immediately. Furthermore, a 'cash advance' refers not only to withdrawals of literal cash, but also to purchases of cash equivalents.

I learned this firsthand while traveling in Madrid, where I stopped at a casino to play poker. The cashier accepted credit cards, so rather than play with the modest amount of cash I had on hand, I plunked down my card for a heftier buy-in. There was no indication the transaction would be treated unlike a normal purchase.

Fortunately, I had a good night at the table. Unfortunately, I later discovered that I had been charged a 5% cash advance fee, which amounted to around $40 after accounting for the exchange rate and interest. Despite eating into my winnings, those fees were ultimately an inexpensive lesson. Now I carry a debit card in case I need cash while traveling.

7. To maintain your credit score

Credit scores are calculated in part by credit utilization ratios, which measure how much available credit is being used. A high utilization ratio (on a single account or across all accounts) is a sign of increased risk to creditors. Regularly maxing out your cards can ding your credit score even if you pay balances off in full and on time.

A friend of mine was recently gearing up to buy a home, and asked how she could improve her credit score to qualify for a better mortgage. Her credit history was pristine, but she only had two credit cards with low credit limits that she nearly exhausted each month on business and personal expenses. I convinced her to pay a few larger bills by check and request a credit limit increase on both accounts, which quickly dropped her utilization ratio from around 80% to under 30%. That helped her secure a 0.25% rate reduction on her mortgage.

Lowering your credit utilization ratio is only vital if you're shopping for a loan, but in that case, trimming credit card spending can be an effective way to boost your credit score.