My Debt Blog

I am getting sick of watching commercials for these credit card companies. For those of you who don’t have a TV, be glad you’re not being subject to this nonsense. The latest string of with for Visa is things going along real smooth in color because everyone is using their Visa card to pay. Then the lady who writes a check or the guy who throws cash down, the screen goes black and white as though it’s old fashioned. MasterCard will never run out of priceless ideas. AmEx wants you to fill in the blanks. Chase lets you jump between airline miles and cash back as a reward incentive.

Last time I checked it takes longer to pay using a plastic card, even debit. When you swipe that card it takes a little bit to validate the account to authorize the transaction. If you’re using cash and the idiot at the register can count, the latter should take less time. Checks are still a completely valid way to pay for things and it is sad how many places no longer accept checks. Most of the time you can just sign them and let the printer fill it out for you and you’re done. Why are using cash or checks such an old fashioned thing?

What would be interesting is to see some federal commercials encouraging people to use cash. I’m not sure if a cash commercial would be taken well since so many people adapted to plastic. With credit cards it doesn’t matter how much money you have or make, you can always get what you want whenever you want, as long as the monthly payment can be managed. Car dealer ads waving credit checks and no money down offers get people into vehicles they probably can’t afford. I can afford my vehicle because I own it.

I’m doing my best to avoid falling into this trap that using these things will make my life better. They can buy fun but they cannot buy happiness. Trying to free myself from credit card debt is the first step I am taking on my journey to become debt free.

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