Consumers, Credit Cards, Marketing Genius

If a person had a mantra every time they purchased something on their credit cards it needs to sound something like this:

I just took out a loan to have lunch with Suzie.

I just took out a high-interest loan for a pair of shoes/golf clubs/tickets I couldn't afford.

I just paid the doctor bill three times what it would have cost if I just made a few payments directly to them.

The whole credit crunch that people have found themselves in was a genius marketing ploy to get the masses to accept that they needed 24 hour loan services at their disposal for all seasons. And we all bought it. People were comparing notes on all of the "deals" out there when you switch balances, etc. When the basic bottom line was . . . you still have these debts, you are just rearranging which loan shark you will be working with.

It just scares me to see that the marketing has already started to convince the masses that even after this recession and the economy diving into the abyss; you just need to choose your credit cards (24 hour loan cards) wiser and know what you're doing. Then they show the happy couple or family brimming; why because they are so smart they just charged up $3,000 WISELY on their loan card again and the unhappy people are "Those Other People" you know the stupid ones who can't get credit again or can't figure out how to make these loan cards work for them. Gotta love the marketing machines, they can't be faulted for succeeding.

I agree that there are certain circumstances that you may need to use a loan or credit card to get you out of an emergency. But, I truly believe they are the type of circumstances that come around once a year if then, even. I've had years where all of my financial ducks were in a row and I've had years I wouldn't even give my social security number out for fear of embarrassment and ridicule. More recently I've been looking back at the times when I did not have credit and there were still some options available that in the end could have worked out just fine. But until you put your loan card down, you won't realize there may be another way to live. So, I guess that is what I would like to close with: Be very careful that you don't pull out your cards just to make it easier on the paperwork or embarrassment, etc. because you will surely pay in the end.