why should Americans use cash instead of credit cards?
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at
7:04 pm
For Americans it’s much easier for us to slide our credit cards then to pay with actual cash. Most Americans are trying to manage their money in this tough economy and are slowly going back to using the old-fashioned cash. Target executives told investors late last month that it’s seeing lower credit card usage among its shoppers for the first time since 2001-2003. For the first time in 17 years most Americans are buying only what they have cash for. Many consumers are struggling to find sources of cash to make purchases.
Filed under: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
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I am in agreement with UncleBen. Anyone who is good at managing money is better off using the credit cards. On top of the security of not having cash on your person, you can also get various rewards depending on the card you have.
Also, don’t kid yourself with those stats. Once the credit crunch passes over you will see credit card use go right back up.
i have a rule, if the money is not in my pocket the product will not get purchased. I use no credit ever.
I am a firm believer in CASH AND CARRY, which was drilled into me as a child by my parents who survived the Depression. The REAL one, not the manufactured farce we have today. The thing IS, I ALWAYS use my credit cards, for everything! What makes ME different is, I have the cash, I just choose NOT to carry it with me. Therefore, I always pay my credit card in full every month, which means NO interest on what was effectively a loan for the time from when I used my card until I paid my bill in full. For that amount of time, my money sat in my account earning interest for ME, not the bank! By the way, years ago, I negotiated to waive the annual fee so my credit cards cost me NOTHING as I pay no annual fee and since I always pay in full when due, I pay no interest either! And every year or so, they boost my credit limit. How nice of them to do that! I could buy a BMW on what my credit limit is these days after 40 years of using my credit card and every year, I take myself out to dinner with money I have NOT paid the bank in interest and fees… What got people into the mess they are in, is simple greed and stupidity. There is some blame to lay at the door of the banks and lending institutions, but the people have to shoulder some of this blame as well. People overreached their ability to pay and the banks LET them. And now, it is the taxpayer, like ME, who now is going to hold the bad paper Dubya is going to buy to keep the banks afloat. The only thing here is that these people are just as poor a risk today as yesterday. The only change is who they owe money TO. Yesterday it was the lending banks. Tomorrow, it will be US, the taxpayers… The risk is exactly the same, but what is different is in WHO is assuming the risk from the lending banks through this bailout that Dubya done went and did.
the only reason to use cash is to keep yourself from over spending- people often spend less when they can see the money physically dwindling down-
otherwise- there’s really no reason. CCs are safer, you can get free rewards, and as long as you spend within your means or use it for everyday stuff, you pay it off every month on time and get all kinds of bonus stuff for free.
Using cash instead of credit cards would cut down on the huge amount of debt many US residents carry – they pay a monthly minimum balance to keep their cards active, but get slugged with those horrendous interest rates on the outstanding balance. When you pay cash, you avoid that. When you’re out of cash, you stop spending. But with credit cards, when you’re out of cash you just hand over the plastic. It’s sooooooo easy to run into debt that way. That’s not to say credit cards can’t be used responsibly, and they are undoubtedly a convenience, but there has to be a better balance than there is at present.
If you are using cash, you are living within your means.
it’s that simple. Use cash and you won’t be in debt.
The only people who should use cash instead of using their credit cards are people who are financially irresponsible. I personally don’t like the idea of carrying large amounts of cash around on me. Let’s face it, today if you are making a trip to the grocery store and want to fill up on gas and maybe make a stop at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and maybe Blockbuster to pick up a DVD and grab a quick lunch while you’re out there running chores you need maybe $500 in your pocket. It’s a lot easier if you use your debit/credit cards then flashing a bunch of cash around, just pay your bills on time to avoid paying interest and don’t spend more than you can afford.
Americans should use cash instead of credit cards b/c the cc comps only make $$$ from us, $$$ they’re really NOT entitled 2. hard working Americans earned that $$$ by the sweat of their brow, & the cc comps never earned what we rightfully brought home
Walmart just reported a 7% decrease in credit card usage from last year.
This can serve to tell us that only a very small percentage of people carry balances on their credit cards. Most people use them for their cash back rewards and convenience.
It’s just a few small select group that are screwing us up.
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I prefer to use cash as I know how much money I have in hand. The more I spend the less it seems I have, which I don’t like. At all. Using a credit card? Swipe! And I’m done! I see no transaction of money physically so it’s almost like I didn’t spend anything at all.
its because of the economy and credit card =debt
People tent to overspend when using CC resulting in a high monthly babance that they can’t afford.
because if the economy crashes, the government is going to have to reimburse us of our money in banks, and that’s going to be a long painstaking process that won’t be very effective, so people are closing accounts and withdrawing all of their money to be safe.
If you do not understand, then you’re part of the problem. Running up debt to get what you want and then going without heat or food for your baby is not a wise choice. Neither is then defaulting on the payments. Use a credit card, but pay it off every month. Since the ’50’s parents have not taught their children about the correct usage of credit, cash and interest. Now look where we’re at.
Because we all overextended our credit and have none of it left?
If people were more responsible with their money we wouldn’t be in this position at all.
because credit card companies are out to get you!