Credit cards certainly have their place in our lives. In fact, used correctly you can actually make some money or get free travel using your credit cards to buy things and pay bills from the various credit card reward plans available. You can pick up some good ideas on what to look for in a credit card offer here at PFJournal.
The sad fact is, though, that most people aren’t so responsible with their credit cards. A small purchase here and there turns into a couple of biggies and, next thing you know, you’re barely paying off the interest with minimum payments each month.
CNN/Money has a nice article on kicking the plastic habit. They put forth some good ideas, even pointing out some benefits of giving up credit cards even if you don’t carry a balance, claiming that “studies find that paying with a card turns you into a different shopper, one who is less price sensitive and more extravagant. Forgo credit cards and you’ll run up a smaller tab when you shop, plain and simple.”
Lots of other good info in the article that should give you something to think about, even if it just helps you get your thoughts together on credit card spending and provides a different perspective on kicking the credit card habit.
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July 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am
This was a great post and the Money article was extremely thorough and provided excellent info.
Thanks!
August 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
PF, You are right. For those who use credit cards effectively, they are a very nice convenience. For others, who seem use them by spending like a drunken sailor and find themselves with credit card debt that overwhelms them, they should run their credit cards through the shredder.
It is interesting that for many their buying behavior changes from cash to credit cards.
Thanks for the info.