Using a Credit Card is Using DEBT

The following story is taken from this webpage: http://www.gballard.net/lifes_lessons/girl_rattlesnake/

Girl and the Snake

A young girl walking along a mountain path to her grandmother's house heard a rustle at her feet. Looking down, she saw a snake, but before she could react, the snake spoke to her.

"I am about to die," he said. "It's too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food in these mountains, and I am starving. Please put me under your coat and take me with you."

"No," the girl replied. "I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. And if I pick you up, you will bite me and your bite is poisonous."

"No, no," the snake said. "If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently."

The young girl sat down on a rock for a moment to rest and think things over. She looked at the beautiful markings on the snake and she had to admit he was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen.

Suddenly, she said, "I believe you. I will save you. All living things deserve to be treated with kindness."

She then reached over, put the snake gently under her coat and continued toward her grandmother's house.

Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her!

"How could you do this to me?" she cried. "You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!"

"You knew what I was when you picked me up," he hissed as he slithered away.

***

- Ann Landers' column (with minor edits by G Ballard)

I was at a store recently making a purchase. The cashier asked if I wanted to sign up for their store card. Right away I said no.

A nearby worker overheard and came over and also tried talking me into getting a store card.

They told me about the benefits: cash, some kind of built-in savings account, and store discounts.

I still said no and it was obvious they didn't understand why.

I don't use debt, and a credit card is using debt.

Some would say that I'm spending money on things I would buy anyway and if I used a credit card I would get points back.

That may be true, but I would still be using debt. And I'm not going to become wealthy by using a credit card to build up points, even if I get points back, even if I pay the balance off every month.

When you use a credit card, you are taking out a loan, whether it's $5 or $500. You may think I'll pay the balance off in one month or in two months, but all it takes is one unexpected event and you don't pay off the full balance. Then your debt starts gaining interest. And something unexpected will happen sooner or later.

Having a credit card also invites temptation into your life. Sometimes we got so fixated on things and think we have to have it now. When we have credit cards, the temptation may be too much and we go make a big purchase with a credit card, or we make a big purchase with savings and use a credit card to buy groceries.

I believe it's better to remove that temptation from our lives. A credit card is an all too convenient way to take out a loan and fall into debt. Just don't use them.

And some people aren't going to understand. When the cashier is trying to talk you into signing up for a credit card and you tell them you just don't use debt, they're going to look at you like you're crazy.

But that's the decision I made. I don't use debt, not even if I get points, not even if I pay it off every month.

A credit card uses debt. That is its nature.

Like if you play with fire you're going to get burned.

If you pick up a snake you're going to get bit.