. >> reporter: josh clark is among the increasing number of americans who are choosing debit over credit. he made the switch three months ago, after maxing out his credit card while starting a designer jean business. >> i realized if i put something on my credit card, i'm going to be paying interest on it until i can fully repay it. >> reporter: tight credit is also encouraging more debit card use. and consumers are using it to manage their money. clark says it helps him control spending. >> i check my bank account more frequently than i check my credit card account, so i'm more in tune with how much money i have to spend. >> reporter: as debit card use surpasses credit cards that presents new challenges for both consumers and regulators. debit cards come with fewer built-in protections. consumer advocate ed mierzwinski warns in the case of a lost or stolen card number, the debit card holder can be on the hook for much more than if a credit card were used. >> the maximum amount you can lose with a credit card is only $50. with a debit card, you could lose all the money in your account if

>>eporter: josh clark is among the increasing number americans who are choosingebit er credit. he made the swit three months ago, after ming out his credit card while srting a designer jean busines >> iealized if i put something on my credit card, i'm goingo be ping interest on it until i can fully pay it. >> reporr: tight credit is also encouraging more debit rd use. and consums are using it to manage their money. clark says it helps him contl spending. >> i check my bank accnt more frequently than check my creditard account, so i'm more in tune with howuch money i ve to spend. >> reporter: as debicard use surpasses creditards that presents newhallenges for both consumerand regulators. bit cards come with fewer ilt-in protections. consumer advocate ed mierzwiki warns in thease of a lost or stolen card numberthe debit card holder n be on the hook for much more than if credit card were us. >> the maximum amount you ca lose with a edit card is only $50. with a debit cd, you could lose all the money in yo account you don't comply with l of the complicated rules. the credit caris p

clark, incomplete. third and long coming up. a minute left in the third quarter. it's third and eight. >> troy: here's a look at josh freeman in the pocket. he's got real skills. he's the number one pick. he's come from a good college, threw the ball a lot, all those things. that's true. when you get to the nfl, sometimes you rush things, you don't get your feet set. i can just tell you in the little bit i've now had a chance to watch him, i think you know, the first thing that strikes me is he was very well coached, and he's got great ability. >> joe: the blitz. the pass behind brian purvis. dirk johnson will punt it away for the buccaneers. >> troy: this is what they're hoping to avoid. i mean, a free rusher and either the lineman didn't pick that up as they should have, or josh freeman didn't recognize that it was a blitz and that is something you'll have to have to be able to do when he plays. he will play at some point this year, but he's going to have to be able to identify the blitz. otherwise, he will get hit a lot. >> joe: a little better punt from johnson. josh freeman who started 1 for 5. and davone bess

clark, incomplete. third and long coming up. a minute left in the third quarter. it's third and eight. >> troy: here's a look at josh freeman in the pocket. he's got real skills. he's the number one pick. he's come from a good college, threw the ball a lot, all those things. that's true. when you get to the nfl, sometimes you rush things, you don't get your feet set. i can just tell you in the little bit i've now had a chance to watch him, i think you know, the first thing that strikes me is he was very well coached, and he's got great ability. >> joe: the blitz. the pass behind brian purvis. dirk johnson will punt it away for the buccaneers. >> troy: this is what they're hoping to oid. i mean, a free rusher and either the lineman didn't pick that up as they should have, or josh freeman didn't recognize that it was a blitz and that is something you'll have to have to be able to do when he plays. he will play at some point this year, but he's going to have to be able to identify the blitz. otherwise, he will get hit a lot. >> joe: a little better punt from johnson. josh freeman who started 1 for 5. and davone bess is

josh's grandfather could have bled to death. >>> get your credit score before you rush off to buy your credit score. of hear what hln money expert clarkbout what you really need. >> you know one of the most difficult, confusing things for a consumer is now that we know more and more about credit reports, is trying to decipher credit scores. because you heard me say scores plural, because you think you only have a single score. and, of the in, the credit bureaus all sing about how you can buy your score from them. but do you know that only one of the three major credit bureaus, give you a real score? that's equifax. equifax sells you fico score, the ones lenders use. but transunion and experian are made-up scores nobody use to say make loans. so let me tell you something. when you are going to spends money to buy your score, buy the the real thing at myfico.com or at equifax.com. otherwise, get a free score that will give you an estimate at quizzle.com. i'm clark howard. for more ways for you to be smart with your wallet, go to cnn.com/clarkhoward. >> clark will teach you to save more, spend less, and avoid getting ripped off. so catch