Abstract. Access To Credit Has Increased Dramatically Since

Attitudes about spending changed drastically. At this point, more people had access to credit cards because credit card companies stopped limiting their customer base to the wealthy, and began issuing cards to people with moderate to low incomes (Garon, 2012, CNN World). This gave Americans a way to purchase goods and services immediately, even if they didn’t have the cash on hand. The seven to eight percent savings rate maintained in the United States from the 1960s to the 1980s plummeted to less than two percent, and remained so until the first decade of the 21st century (Melicher & Norton, 2014, p. 168).

Not only for those seeking to retire, the business motivated economy has transfigured how one must live in order to live comfortably. Building credit through credit cards is often perceived to be the only way in order for a buyer to appear credible. Yet in the quest for the optimal credit score people enter into debt. Considering and evaluating the risks and benefits to credit cards may contribute to opinions towards those flimsy pieces of plastic.

Lewis Townsend, a financial educator, came to talk to Radford students about how to stay out of debt. He is from Chicago, but has been in Virginia for 3 years educating students on how to use their money wisely. Townsend had a comical outlook on finance, he wasn’t boring everyone with just numbers. His favorite quote is “Rich people stay rich by living like they are broke, broke people stay broke by living like they are rich.” Lewis said that on average women have better credit than men. He talked about the 3 credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

The credit boom of the 1920’s is one of the things that contributed most to the stock market crash on 1929 and then the eventual cause of the Great Depression. “We find that the credit boom view provides a useful perspective on both the boom of the 1920s and the subsequent slump. In particular, it directs attention to the role played by the structure of the financial sector and the interaction of finance and innovation.” (Eichengreen) As many people know today, having a credit card and going shopping without realizing exactly how a credit card works can put the user in a tough situation. After a person puts something on credit they must pay it back at a later date. In the 1920’s the “credit boom” was where people had started to use credit more frequently and were getting carried away with the idea of credit. People putting more

In the past years America began to suffer in economic field and in areas such as inflation. There are many reasons behind this misfortune, one of which is the financial illiteracy of the nation as a whole. A mandatory for graduation, financial literacy class in high school can be a solution to the problem of economical instability in the country. This course will prepare the young adults for the future that lies ahead, by teaching the responsibilities such as money management, consumer rights, credit, debit, and savings (source #3). In addition, the gained skill will both be helpful now, in solving problems with the credit card debt, and in the future, when determining the amount of taxes and bills one has to pay. Recently, several states

Overall, there is a notable mismatch among college-educated Millennials between their perceived and demonstrated levels of financial literacy, with the form exceeding the latter. They also have less financial knowledge than might be expected given their educational attainment. On the other hand, given that only 29 percent have received financial education through school or work, perhaps low financial literacy is to be expected. This indicates a need for increased financial education, as improved financial literacy would mean more informed financial decision making. (p. 18)

Consumers use credit cards for numerous reasons. Those reasons are: the earning of cash back, safety, points and frequent-flyer miles, universal acceptance, and to build credit (Investopedia.com). Credit cards can allow for cancelations a payment on a service that did not meet the expectations of the consumer, which is really beneficial. However, consumers own a few too many credit cards that all have different interest rates. The reason credit debt is so astronomical, is because consumers are paying the required minimum payment

In the article “Why American Teen’s Financial Literacy isn't Improving,” Annamaria Lusardi, writer of the Wall Street Journal, argues that young adults financial literacy levels are low and the differences in the teens levels is alarming. She develops this claim first by showing the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores and tells us the low scores and the gap between students scores. The financial literacy rate in the U.S hasn't moved in the past three years in the recent findings in May. As those teenagers turn into adults and go to college they have to make many financial decisions and if they are not educated to make well thought out decisions that will improve their financial future then they could end up with

The government has ensured the money will be repaid through the wage garnishment system. Only a small percentage of consumers endure this process because debt can be collected by numerous means (Arnold). In response, credit debt was virtually non-existent until 1970, now Americans have an average of $3,500. A time used to exist where only the wealthy had access to credit cards, but the credit score industry caused financial companies to feel comfortable with the broadening of credit cards across the population (Indiviglio). Letting consumers purchase those big-ticket items also enables them the ability to spend more holistically. For example, $20 cash is manageable for a few groceries, but a credit card can cover those groceries and a new television simultaneously. Credit cards seem to give consumers an infinite amount of money at their fingertips. After so much debt has risen, creditors resort to the courts. Over a million lawsuits are filed annually concerning credit card debt, which does not seem like a small percentage (Arnold). And through wage garnishment, creditors collect their payment whether the consumer can afford it or not. The consumers should not be treated in this manner for using a credit card in the means that it was distributed for.

By the time of Ashton’s graduation, he knew how to find the value of x in a quadratic equation more easily than to balance a checkbook. His inability to know about financial literacy landed him into bankruptcy at the age of 25. Nowadays, young Americans who graduate will be asked to make financial decisions for themselves and high schools are failing to prepare them for the mathematics of the real world. Many students who leave high school face a similar handicap while dealing with simple deeds such as managing their loans, money and debt.Therefore, Schools in America should allow financial literacy in their curriculum since it gives a better understanding of financial management for the future.

In response to the Credit CARD Act’s intent on fighting against young consumer perdition with debt, new credit card usage has been halved by those aged 18-20 . It is possible that the halving may not be completely related to the Credit CARD Act, and could possibly stem from the recession itself. However, it has played an important role in reducing unnecessary credit for young consumer. The application process has become somewhat prohibitive. That serves, in effect, to limit the amount of people who will try to obtain credit through credit cards. The goal is to limit acceptance for young consumers who find credit to be necessary and feasible.

Beginning in the twentieth century, household debt levels were increasing as the standard of living was rising. As technology and innovation was becoming a large part of industrial growth and new commodities were becoming available to consumers, households began demanding a wider array of goods and services. These commodities included vehicles, appliances and other modern devices were heavily demanded by North American and European consumers. These commodities were purchased on credit and were considered ‘easy credit’. This allowed the mindsets of consumers to shift from saving to spending.

Laura, you did a great job with explaining the importance of consumer credit. I think it is very important to have more controlled access to credit due to the unnecessary spending that takes place in the economy. I think it is a good idea for household to get into the habit of saving and get out of the habit of spending. With the recent economic turnover, mortgage companies and other investors had to get control of the credit that was accessible to consumers. When consumers go into default on their mortgage loans and credit cards, it causes issues for the lenders and their company. Having controlled access, it better was better for the business. Consumer credit has a great influence on the economy and personal spending, it is better for the

Non-revolving consumer credit growth slowed significantly in June, while the expansion in the revolving category has continued its deceleration since the beginning of the year. The slower growth in non-revolving credit in June would be consistent with the rolling over, albeit at a high level, of auto and light truck sales in recent months. There was, however, a sharp rebound in sales in July to its highest level this year, implying that June’s sluggishness in the non-revolving credit could be short-lived.

The analysis was carried out on the data collected with the help of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of individuals selected from Delhi NCR, belonging to different age group and using different types of credit cards thereby constituting a heterogeneous population mix. This study provides useful information for developing, or revising, university policies regarding financial education and counseling, as well as curriculum considerations.