Essay On Racking Up Too Much Holiday Debt On Credit Cards

When using credit cards, practicing self-discipline and common sense will allow an individual to use the cards as an advantage (Lynott, 2008). Advantageous tips are to limit the number of credit cards to two for personal use and two for business, charge only what you can pay off at the end of the month because that is interest-free, carry cash to pay for small purchases because they add up quickly on a credit card, become knowledgeable about the interest and additional fees and penalties, and focus on items that are needed and not just wanted (Lynott, 2008).

Credit cards have become increasingly popular world-wide, making it easier to buy now and pay later but are they actually helping or hindering someone’s credit? “Maxed Out” by James D. Scurlock demonstrates how credit cards can hurt someone’s credit, while “Why Won’t Anyone give Me a Credit Card” by Kevin O’Donnell demonstrates how someone may have financial stability to pay off a credit card, but still be consistently denied one by the credit card companies. Owning credit cards is not the problem; the problem is being irresponsible with it.

There are both pros and cons to spending with credit. A consumer must be responsible for their spending and plan ahead for the future. Many people are quickly swept with debt a short period after receiving a credit card. Other consumers are wise enough to control their spending and limit their purchases.

Credit cards can ruin any financial situation if used improperly. Let’s look at what our two financial authorities think about them. Dave Ramsey is completely against the idea of using credit cards. Being a devout Christian, he often finds his ways of financial teaching through The Bible. Proverbs 22:7 states “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” You are charged a premium for using a credit card in the form of interest. While you can pay off credit before the interest is charged, Dave insists that many people do not pay if off in time. It is better to get rid of the enticement altogether than to play with the idea of using a

Most people go into the store with the attention for buying for others for Christmas, but instead of holiday gift giving, most consumers buy for personal or family use. Most people shop in groups with their families and friends since everyone is home for the holidays. The more people you have with you, the better your chances are to get the bargains. Friends and family are the main influencers on gift-buying. As for how people track down bargains and sales on holiday purchases on deals comes from numerous resources such as newspaper ads,

Currently, I don’t have a credit card. All of my payments are made in cash of with my debit card. In the last lecture we learned that it is a good idea to get a credit card young so the credit can start building. Mr. Klassen says that he uses his card for the necessities that he has to buy anyway such as gas and groceries. I would like to implement that in my own spending habits once I get a credit card. I would keep my balances low by being responsible with how I use my card. In addition, I will start out with only one credit card. There is a lot of temptation to open up many cards with different companies, but with one card it is easier to keep track of your

In regard to saving money, I have found that one of the simplest deals by taking back control over the credit card companies. Faster than expected, credit card debt accumulates quickly. Each purchase on a credit card is not limited to the price on the sales tag, when the entire purchase price is unpaid on the subsequent bill. Be realistic with your purchases. When living on a cash budget, discuss how much “ money is ‘available’ ” for spending as well as how often that amount is withdrawn (Do You Know Where Your Money Is). Avoid signing up for another credit cards when contemplating how to handle expenses. While it may appear that paying off one credit card with another would make it more manageable, it is only compounding the problem. In order to determine spending allowance to pay off debt, I recommend to construct an excel document of the expenses for each month.

Using credit is quicker and easier these days than spending cash or writing a check. To avoid the long lines we will use the internet to shop or make a quick call. The debt process can start with this months mortgage payment or a week of groceries put on the card. After making the credit card payment, including interest, the following months charges climb higher from the cost of other bills and lifestyle habits added to the card. Before realizing it the debt is out of hand and stress levels build to feeling helpless. If this sounds like you, Christian Credit Counseling can help relieve those anxieties.

One of the worst things you can do for your credit is not use it. In fact, many lenders say that no credit is worse than bad credit. This is because they understand that sometimes things happen that are beyond your control, so getting behind on a couple of payments isn’t the worst thing that could happen. It’s not having the payments or credit accounts at all that could be even worse for your

Pay your bills on time. When you are late making payments this has a significant effect on your credit score. If you can’t pay your bills on time how are you to be able to pay creditors. I know it can be hard and temptation is strong, but remember my previous articles regarding budget planning? Put those suggestions into place, if they are already in place awesome. You know that random shopping sprees and impulse purchases are out of the question. This behavior normally results

In the world of personal finances, credit cards play an important roles in lives of many people. Sometimes, it's out of choice while other times it happens out of necessity. Regardless of why it happens, the numbers surrounding credit card debt are worthy of scrutiny in order to determine whether having or using credit cards is a sound financial decision.

As people get older, everyone tends to apply for credit. It is much simpler and easy to make larger purchases. Although, strict actions must be made, it is a full time responsibility and you must have the independence, organization and knowledge to receive credit. To use credit wisely, it is smart to first know what you are getting yourself into. Ask family members, friends, or financial institution any question you may have. Receive all the information you need before receiving your credit. Also, make sure that you are willing and financially able to pay back any money, plus interest and fees that may come from a credit card. Make sure that you will not be behind on paying bills, or be irresponsible with how you are managing your credit. A time I used credit wisely, was when I wanted to purchase a very expensive Michael Khors purse from their new collection.

Gift shopping is always fun and savings on buying new gifts is all the more exciting. The Present Finder offers numerous deals all around the year and huge sales during festivals and holidays. Check out their website for detailed information on gift promo codes:

“The average American owns 3.5 credit cards and $15,799 in credit card debt… totaling consumer debt of $2.43 trillion in the USA alone.” (Beckner). Debt forces many people into depression and worrying lives. People struggle to discover happiness through financing goods, but struggle even more to find a way out of debt. Through consumerism, people lose their finances in department stores, car dealerships, and much more. Most of the possessions people buy with credit cards become impractical within a few months. The void they search for is never really filled. Consumerism is just a way to get the economy going, without thinking of a person’s individual finance

Holidays have always been known to affect our consumer culture for many years, but how it all began eludes many people and very few studies have been completed on it. Even though some say that the subject is too broad to precisely identify how holidays, especially Christmas, directly affect our market, I have found that people’s values, expectations and rituals related to holidays can cause an excessive amount of spending among our society. Most people are unaware that over the centuries holidays have become such a profitable time of year for industries that they now starting to promote gift ideas on an average of a month and a half ahead of actual holiday dates to meet consumer demands.