Credit is a financial tool used by people who don't know how to manage or budget their money..
Agree or disagree and why...
Credit is a financial tool that I use to my own financial advantage. (But given the interest rates these days that advantage is almost non-existent.) See also @nicknotes' comment.
Like all tools, it can go wrong if not used safely; think of guns and motor vehicles.
If we're talking about a credit card, then a person can abuse the possible amount of money he can withdraw. It used to be that aristocrats, too, lived in constant debt only at the expense of their noble family name and didn't know the measure of their needs. But now, people take out loans for a specific expense. For example, you might take out an involuntary loan to buy a laptop for work if yours broke down. People also take out loans for something else. When I took out a mortgage on a house, I went to Mortgage Advisor Sunderland because I knew I couldn't buy my house any other way anytime soon. This decision allowed me to finally live comfortably, even though I needed to pay off the money I used to spend on rent.
Disagree. Credit is many things, and is misused by many, but is essential for many as well.
For 0ne small example, taking advantage of a sale! I got my $369 Breville high-end counter convection oven for just $199...loss-leader of the week at Bed, Bath & Beyond, plus their 20% off coupon...I had only gone in to compare them & their competitors, but couldn't whip my credit card out fast enough!
I have a credit card that gives me 2% back on Everything, (even PayPal & Amazon purchases) pay the balance in full every month and pay No interest, none. Been using it for over 2 years now.. I think it is a fine tool!
I have a credit card that I pay off 90% of the time every month. Couple years ago I checked and I paid a total of $612 in interest in the last 10 years. I charge everything on it every month. All of my monthly bills are paid by credit cards and I buy all my groceries and other purchases with the credit card.
because of all of those credit card points I've been to Europe three times in the last 10 years using those points. I hope to go again next summer on points that I tried to use last March.
I've never had the money to buy a house without a loan but I've always tried to pay more than the payment and I paid our other house off in 20 instead of 30 years despite refinancing it once to add an addition.
Credit can be used responsibly and is necessary for most people without an inheritance.
No doubt some folks use credit responsibly (I think I"m one of them), however :
@FearlessFly I agree many people get into trouble because of their first adventures with credit cards. Fortunately I had a wise husband who knew how to talk to me productively about the issue. Many people just fight about debt, we chose to compromise.
Good job! ☺ I rarely use credit cards.. I prefer debit cards...
@Cutiebeauty big difference because credit cards do not hold you responsible for fraudulent use but debit cards leave you responsible for the balance due even if fraud...
@Philip21 what balance due are you talking about? With my debit, the money comes right out of my bank account.. There is no balance...
@Cutiebeauty there are scanning devices that can steal your card info, and hackers that can steal info through your online actions.
I have had one (only) credit card for 40+ years, and have used it less-than 10 times in the last 20+ years. For a lot of folks, the purpose of a credit card is to spend money they don't have. I'm not one of those sheeple.
Necessary evil, try getting cancer and not having credit.
At the point you become ill, your fortune has been squandered because our countrymen are too greedy for national health care, and they'll go broke as well unless they're lucky enough to die quickly.
Medical bills keep me doing sleep overs in my car.
I was unfortunate enough to survive cancer, and that's the most American thing I've said all day.
I partially agree. There are times you get stuck and credit can give you a hand. However, you have to watch it, not only because of the interest charged but also not to allow yourself to depend too much on it or else you can get stuck. It depends on the situation. Fortunately, I got free of credit and debts last year. Hopefully, if things go well, I'll never use that option again.
I will never have another credit card as long as I live, evil things.
Cheap credit can be a useful tool in business. But the old rule, that you should never borrow more than you have easily transferable assets to pay back is a good one. In other words if you want to put up a market, and you borrow money to buy the land to put it on, that's fine. Because if it all goes wrong, the lender gets the land, so they loose nothing, and you are not in debt without income to pay for it. Everybody happy.
But if you borrow money in private life to buy goods, like white goods for example, which loose value quickly, then you are a gambler, and like all gamblers you will probably crash someday.
Great advice... ☺
My father said to watch out for those "easy monthly payments." Neither a lender nor a borrower be.
That said, there are times a well-calculated loan can be a life-changer.
Agree?
Yes, I agree that a loan is a good idea in certain cases..
@Cutiebeauty But credit cards lead to overspending and a life of servitude. Unless you really need that loan to, say, start a business or improve the value of a house prior to sale, or some other worthwhile investment designed to increase your estate, stay away.
Consumer debt is a BAD idea.
(Why do you ask?)
@Storm1752 I ask the question for public awareness...