by Anthony Megna

Created on: April 18, 2008   Last Updated: January 06, 2012

When I was a young adult my father called credit cards the ruination of the country. That was said back in 1975! He also said, "If you don't have the money in your pocket to buy the item, you can't afford it".
I used to laugh at him and dismiss his raves out of hand. That was when I was young and foolish and never experienced the black hole of debt. Boy, was he right!

That is my new mantra today, no money...no purchase. It is tough to do when everyone is hammered by MasterCard and Visa commercials on television. It just is so easy to get sucked in. And that is the first warning sign. If it looks easy, beware. Everyone wants it now. They must have it to keep up with the neighbors. They must have it yesterday, and credit cards fulfill that wish. Oh, it is easy to wipe out the thought of paying for that big screen TV. Just shove it back in the corner of your mind where all the other unnecessary purchases are. When the end of the month comes, watch out. Do you find yourself opening up your credit card statements last when the mail comes? Do you find yourself putting off opening your statements? Are you scared shxt -less to open them at all? Welcome to the new America.

All you young adults out there, if you are reading this article and brushing off what I am saying, you and I have a lot in common. I did the same thing while listening to my father years ago. I learned the hard way. I must have been a masochist. I know the credit card companies don't care. They are in business to make money. Why do you think they charge those interest rates that can break your back? Interest rates are at their lowest virtually in any time in history, yet the credit card companies are still charging close to thirty percent in some cases!  What's up with that?  Sure, they care about the consumer....yeah, right!

I know you need plastic to rent a vehicle or secure a hotel room or whatever. Use a debit card. Use a pre-paid credit card. You know, the one where you put up your own money and when you hit the limit, that is it.

Believe me, you don't need to get tangled up in those credit cards those nice people are pushing on the college campuses. You don't need to listen to your bank teller offering you a DEAL on credit cards after you have stood in that long line. You don't need to listen to the suckerfish who call you on the phone telemarketing your future down your throat!

I don't mean to sound ruthless, but I am going to anyway. You want to flirt with the debt devil, go ahead. You will find everything you want to do in your life hindered if you get in trouble with these loan sharks.

What do you have in your wallet? Hopefully, just cash!

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