Back in the day, my grandparents didn’t believe in using credit cards much or taking out loans for anything. They purchased a used vehicle with cash, and they didn’t spend money they didn’t have.
My grandpa didn’t even like to use a bank for a savings account (to this day we are still expecting to find stashes of money hidden all over his property).
Now it’s different
If you don’t have a credit card or some type of debt people look at you like you’ve lost your mind. I mean, having debt is a normal part of life, and you can’t survive without it, right?!
Well, that’s what a lot of people think anyways. I don’t share that view. I’ve never felt I needed to “get permission” from the loan company or bank to make a purchase. I like being financially independent and not having to divulge my finances to some random banker.
The latest trend
Lately you will find more and more people are joining in, forming their own views and thinking for themselves. Paying off debt from student loans, credit cards and consumer debt is becoming very popular. It’s what the cool kids are doing, and it’s the latest trend in the financial industry.
According to CreditKarma.com, over the past year credit card debt has fallen over 18% since August of 2010. The recession knocked many of us off our feet, and forced us to make much needed changes. Big change requires a big wake up call. The government doesn’t rule my finances, and banks don’t either. I have a choice.
I dare you
I choose to not use credit cards, with their high interest rates and outrageous fees. I choose not to use a checking account at a bank that charges me $5 to use a debit card. I choose to spend my money on what I WANT, and I dare you to choose too!
Come on, join the trend and do what the cool kids are doing! Let’s kick Chase, Bank of America and Sallie Mae out of our lives, and let’s take back our wallets.
Great post! I love that the new trend is kicking out debt, saving more, and paying off credit cards. If you do not have a checking account, and you do not have a credit card, where do you keep your money? If you have a credit card and pay it off in full every month you can boost your credit score while getting perks like cash back, airline miles, etc. The interest rates on the cards don’t matter if you don’t keep a running balance.
[...] pretty easy to become part of the royal family though. Make the decision that you will no longer just be nominal, and that you will educate yourself, polishing your skills till they shine. It’s time to make a [...]
[...] are trying to get out of debt, we still find comfort in keeping them around for emergencies. While this mindset is one of the reasons we are in credit card debt in the first place, it can take some time come to [...]
[...] stress or spend too much money on one day. Enjoy your life together (and if you’re up to it, kick tradition to the curb). Carrie Smith lives in the southern state of Texas, where she was born and raised. She's a [...]