If you can remember when the only two things that people went into debt for was a car and a home, you are not young.
Now, many who are debt advisers advise people to get rid of their credit cards. Why?
Because too many use them as a lending agency, not as a payment against what they have in the bank.
Buy now, and pay later. When not signing a paper designated a limited amount or directly issued the rules of repayment, it becomes a comfortable, thoughtless act to extend the loan at the grocery store, at the beauty salon, at the department store and even for that expensive vacation which is so appealing.
Now, we have solicitors who play on our weaknesses who ask for money for political reasons for charities or various kinds of purchases, and if you say that you can not afford the amount, they suggest that you charge it to a credit card.
When reminded that we are still accountable for the debt, they claim that is a month off, and we will be able to take care of that when the bill comes in.
They want you to take out a promissory note that may turn out to be an expensive, interest bearing, long term loan. The next time I am presented with this suggestion, I am seriously considering telling the innocent, employed solicitor, “I will gladly do that. What is your card number?”
We criticize the government for playing with us and increasing our desires to have more than we can afford and have to pay for later.
They entice us, bribe us and neglect to remind us that that credit card payment will be due, one way or another. Then we play the same game with our own finances.
Maybe we should practice some restraint and planning in both areas.
Demand from the government what we really need and can afford and spend only what we have.
When do we seriously ask ourselves when that will start?
When the credit card bills arrive, I would wager.
Maybe those politicians who are so vague about payments and who promise so much should be asked for their personal credit card numbers rather than for more goodies and unpaid debts.
Sincerely, Norma Christian Raymondville
