March 1, 2010
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We are seduced almost everyday by ads promising a low-interest and even no-interest credit card. Running up debt and then “charging it” — is a typical American way of life, some people even feel almost unpatriotic if they don’t have a credit card, as a significant percentage of US economy is run by consumer debts. We continuously get solicitations in our inbox telling us that we are pre-approved for thousands of dollars worth of credit card package. We see TV spots urging us to purchase a houseful of furniture and appliances with no interest for a one-year credit, or a brand new car with “low interest and no money down”. Sometimes you are allowed to skip the payments for a few months. (more…)
January 26, 2010
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It is one of the most profitable businesses for banking industry: credit cards. The nearly magical convenience of these plastic cards encourages our compulsive behaviors. With more than a billion of credit cards in circulation which account for trillions of dollars of consumer spending, the world economy has obviously gone plastic.
Many families use their general-purpose, personal credit cards such as American Express, Discover, Visa and Mastercard to make ends meet; these cards have become discreet lifelines for people in financial straits. But more prudent consumers use plastic strictly for convenience. While it would seem that they — who charge a small fortune each month on their credit cards — are the ideal customers, actually, they are what some in the banking industry call a “deadbeat.” That is because they pay their balance in full each month. The best customers are those who make a minimum payment each month, as a large percentage of the payment goes toward the interest. (more…)