Is it possible to live in U.S. and use a debit card rather than a credit card, just like it works in Europe. So that I'm unable to spend more money than what I have on my savings account?

Yes, it is completely possible. Dave Ramsey advocates for this on his national finance radio show. There are millions of people doing this already!

Alternatively, use a credit card but disable the possibility to spend more money than the one I have on my account.

These are called secured cards. Essentially you open a bank account and put money into it, say $1000, then the bank issues you a card with a $1000 limit. If you don't pay, the bank uses the account balance to pay it off.

The main reason people in America use credit cards over debit cards are

1. Any thief that get a hold of it can clean out your bank account. Now rent, mortgage, car payment, etc can't be paid until it gets straightened out.

2. Debit cards have overdraft fees if you don't have money in your account. If you don't have money, the bank will charge you an overdraft fee, $20 seems common. The barista at your favorite coffee shop may run your card 2 or 3 times to make sure it doesn't work, so $20*3 = $60 you don't have

3. It's more difficult to reserve cars and hotels since a debit card hold = money missing from your account

4. Secured cards are surprisingly popular, and essentially mean that even the most debt aversed person can have a credit card.

5. Most credit cards offer airline miles, cash-back, points, or other incentives for spending on them. You're essentially turning away free money.

EDIT:

In the U.S. a debit card can be run as a credit card, which here means swipe + signature (not a PIN). If you use a debit card at a sit-down restaurant the server will run it as a credit card and bring you a check to sign. Same if you buy online, you can use your debit card as a credit card and no PIN is required.

It's only been recently that the U.S. has (mostly) moved to chip (EMV) protected credit cards due to a rash of data breaches. The U.S. simply doesn't have the protection around card transactions that Europe has.

Even with significant nudging from lawmakers to use the more secure chip cards, some places still just want a swipe + signature (very insecure). As of Oct 1, 2015 if a merchant doesn't use a chip card, they cannot claim a fraudulent transaction and must eat the loss themselves.

Is it possible to live in U.S. and use a debit card rather than a credit card, just like it works in Europe. So that I'm unable to spend more money than what I have on my savings account?

Yes, it is completely possible. Dave Ramsey advocates for this on his national finance radio show. There are millions of people doing this already!

Alternatively, use a credit card but disable the possibility to spend more money than the one I have on my account.

These are called secured cards. Essentially you open a bank account and put money into it, say $1000, then the bank issues you a card with a $1000 limit. If you don't pay, the bank uses the account balance to pay it off.

The main reason people in America use credit cards over debit cards are

1. Any thief that get a hold of it can clean out your bank account. Now rent, mortgage, car payment, etc can't be paid until it gets straightened out.
2. Debit cards have overdraft fees if you don't have money in your account. If you don't have money, the bank will charge you an overdraft fee, $20 seems common. The barista at your favorite coffee shop may run your card 2 or 3 times to make sure it doesn't work, so $20*3 = $60 you don't have
3. It's more difficult to reserve cars and hotels since a debit card hold = money missing from your account
4. Secured cards are surprisingly popular, and essentially mean that even the most debt aversed person can have a credit card.
5. Most credit cards offer airline miles, cash-back, points, or other incentives for spending on them. You're essentially turning away free money.

EDIT:

In the U.S. a debit card can be run as a credit card, which here means swipe + signature (not a PIN). If you use a debit card at a sit-down restaurant the server will run it as a credit card and bring you a check to sign. Same if you buy online, you can use your debit card as a credit card and no PIN is required.

It's only been recently that the U.S. has (mostly) moved to chip (EMV) protected credit cards due to a rash of data breaches. The U.S. simply doesn't have the protection around card transactions that Europe has.

Even with significant nudging from lawmakers to use the more secure chip cards, some places still just want a swipe + signature (very insecure). As of Oct 1, 2015 if a merchant doesn't use a chip card, they cannot claim a fraudulent transaction and must eat the loss themselves.

Is it possible to live in U.S. and use a debit card rather than a credit card, just like it works in Europe. So that I'm unable to spend more money than what I have on my savings account?

Yes, it is completely possible. Dave Ramsey advocates for this on his national finance radio show. There are millions of people doing this already!

Alternatively, use a credit card but disable the possibility to spend more money than the one I have on my account.

These are called secured cards. Essentially you open a bank account and put money into it, say $1000, then the bank issues you a card with a $1000 limit. If you don't pay, the bank uses the account balance to pay it off.

The main reason people in America use credit cards over debit cards are

1. Any thief that get a hold of it can clean out your bank account. Now rent, mortgage, car payment, etc can't be paid until it gets straightened out.

2. Debit cards have overdraft fees if you don't have money in your account. If you don't have money, the bank will charge you an overdraft fee, $20 seems common. The barista at your favorite coffee shop may run your card 2 or 3 times to make sure it doesn't work, so $20*3 = $60 you don't have

3. It's more difficult to reserve cars and hotels since a debit card hold = money missing from your account

4. Secured cards are surprisingly popular, and essentially mean that even the most debt aversed person can have a credit card.

5. Most credit cards offer airline miles, cash-back, points, or other incentives for spending on them. You're essentially turning away free money.

Is it possible to live in U.S. and use a debit card rather than a credit card, just like it works in Europe. So that I'm unable to spend more money than what I have on my savings account?

Yes, it is completely possible. Dave Ramsey advocates for this on his national finance radio show. There are millions of people doing this already!

Alternatively, use a credit card but disable the possibility to spend more money than the one I have on my account.

These are called secured cards. Essentially you open a bank account and put money into it, say $1000, then the bank issues you a card with a $1000 limit. If you don't pay, the bank uses the account balance to pay it off.

The main reason people in America use credit cards over debit cards are

1. Any thief that get a hold of it can clean out your bank account. Now rent, mortgage, car payment, etc can't be paid until it gets straightened out.

2. Debit cards have overdraft fees if you don't have money in your account. If you don't have money, the bank will charge you an overdraft fee, $20 seems common. The barista at your favorite coffee shop may run your card 2 or 3 times to make sure it doesn't work, so $20*3 = $60 you don't have

3. It's more difficult to reserve cars and hotels since a debit card hold = money missing from your account

4. Secured cards are surprisingly popular, and essentially mean that even the most debt aversed person can have a credit card.

5. Most credit cards offer airline miles, cash-back, points, or other incentives for spending on them. You're essentially turning away free money.

EDIT:

In the U.S. a debit card can be run as a credit card, which here means swipe + signature (not a PIN). If you use a debit card at a sit-down restaurant the server will run it as a credit card and bring you a check to sign. Same if you buy online, you can use your debit card as a credit card and no PIN is required.

It's only been recently that the U.S. has (mostly) moved to chip (EMV) protected credit cards due to a rash of data breaches. The U.S. simply doesn't have the protection around card transactions that Europe has.

Even with significant nudging from lawmakers to use the more secure chip cards, some places still just want a swipe + signature (very insecure). As of Oct 1, 2015 if a merchant doesn't use a chip card, they cannot claim a fraudulent transaction and must eat the loss themselves.