11/01/2007
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Credit cards are just like drugs. There is no better analogy. They offer short-term pleasure and long-term pain. They give the illusion of having more money than you actually do. Then you live with less because each month a portion of your income is siphoned away paying past credit debt.
A Building Block of Life
Did you know the average American family carries about $8,000 in credit card debt and has on an average six cards? Furthermore, if no additional purchases were made and the average family made only minimum payment, it would take 22 years to pay off the average credit card debt. Credit card debt is counted in the billions of dollars.
Credit is positioned like a platform or building block of life. "And for everything else there's XXXcard." It is almost considered inconsequential to use your card. It seems the purchase (whatever it is) is "far too important" to have any cost matter.
Therefore we use it, and use it, and use it until we literally cannot survive without it. Some folks would be shocked to learn that not carrying a credit card is not against the law!
Smiling Creditors Are Not Your Friend
Creditors are not doing any favors by extending credit no matter how friendly their facade. Their purpose is getting you hooked and draining off your future wealth. This is future money that you can't even guarantee is going to be there. Why? Can you guarantee you will have your job tomorrow, next week, next year, in 10 years? But we promise it away just the same.
Creditors are not giving us anything. They're not adding one penny into our life. Consider this: Creditors do not make a penny until we go into debt. Therefore, do you really think they hope to contribute to your future wealth or do you think they just might prefer that you are horribly irresponsible and charge everything you see? They want you in debt and the deeper the better.
And just as you think you are smart enough to climb out of your credit entanglement, your "friendly" credit card executives are figuring more and better ways to offer conveniences to entice you to use your card even more. For example:
-- Have you noticed how many fast food places now take credit cards? Now there is a conflict in ideologies, "fast food" and "credit card"... hhhmmmm.
-- Did you know taxicabs and parking lots now take credit cards? I sure hope it's a deductible expense. The compound interest it generates, of course, is not.
-- Movie theaters now report 25% of payment is by credit card.
-- The other day I saw a young man at a grocery store paying for five candy bars with a credit card. Talk about short-term pleasure and long-term pain. That has got to be a prizewinner.
-- The IRS now takes credit cards -- a double whammy.
-- Many mortuaries now take credit cards. Why does that sound strange and why is it a fitting last example?
The fact is, credit card executives now know that most credit worthy people already have two+ cards. But they still send out 2.5 billion solicitations annually and the average household receives about nearly 24 applications per year. Still, finding innovative ways to increase credit debt is their primary solution to increase profit. As one bank card executive reported, "We will break down the barriers of debt." If that doesn't sound like drug dealing I don't know what does.
What Will We Teach Our Children?
Until we learn to shut off the wealth sucking valves, we will continue to drown in a sea of debt. Until we stop creating new debt with the convenience of a credit card, we will continue the strangle hold of our creditors. Until we start operating on a cash basis, we are doomed to a life of debt.
Our future and the future of our family is at stake. And until we make a decision in favor of ourselves instead of the credit card industry, we will foolishly squander our future by living in an illusionary world and paying its price--- just like an addict.
I offer one final note. Obviously I am opposed to credit cards. But I also recognize that we live in a world of plastic. In and of itself, there is nothing wrong with a credit card. It is an innocent piece of plastic. It is what we do with it that makes a difference. If an individual finds they cannot control their use of the card, the card must be completely eliminated. It is as simple as that.
Mike has been an Internet Guide/Writer in the field of Credit/Debt Management for over 10 years. His site was awarded Best Of Net by Forbes Publication from 2000 to 2005 with site visitation doubling to over 500,000 average views per month in the last year. Earning an M.S. in Counseling from Creighton University, NE, and with his Practicum in financial counseling to military families, Mike has offered debt elimination seminars to businesses and community colleges for the last 9 years, has had radio interviews, as well as been referenced in numerous publications, both in the newspaper and throughout the Internet financial community. Visit his site at LearnCreditManagement.com for more vital information on debt management.
© 2007 Mike KillianThe views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of College Central Network, Inc. or its affiliates. Reference to any company, organization, product, or service does not constitute endorsement by College Central Network, Inc., its affiliates or associated companies. The information provided is not intended to replace the advice or guidance of your legal, financial, or medical professional.